Ablauf

Ablauf is a German noun that denotes the progression of events in a process, the order in which steps are taken, or the passage of time. Depending on context, it can also refer to the expiry or end date of a time-limited item. The word derives from ab- meaning away or off and Lauf meaning run or flow, signaling movement through time or sequence.

In everyday language, Ablauf is used to describe procedures and schedules: for example, describing the Ablauf eines Meetings or the Ablauf der Prüfung to indicate the sequence of activities. In business and project management, phrases such as Ablaufplan (process flow plan or timetable) and Arbeitsablauf (workflow) denote predefined sequences. In computing, Ablauf translates to control flow—the order in which program instructions execute. In the context of products or food, Ablauf appears in phrases indicating expiry, such as Ablaufdatum, while Zeitablauf emphasizes elapsed time.

Common collocations include Ablauf, Arbeitsablauf, Zeitablauf, Ablaufplan, Ablaufdatum, Verfallsdatum, and der Ablauf eines Verfahrens. Distinctions to note: Ablauf refers to the general progression or sequence; Ablaufdatum and Verfallsdatum denote explicit expiry dates; Ablaufplan identifies a planned sequence of steps; and Ablaufsteuerung (where used) refers to the control of execution flow in technical contexts. It should not be confused with related terms such as Lauf (run) or Ablösung (replacement).

In English, the concept corresponds to course of events, sequence, workflow, or expiry date, depending on context. The term is widely used across daily language, business documentation, and technical writing to describe how processes unfold over time.