Alignment

Alignment is the arrangement or positioning of elements relative to a reference point or to one another. It is a broad concept used across many fields to describe how components fit together, how goals relate to standards, or how accuracy is achieved.

In engineering and manufacturing, alignment means coaxing components to share a common axis, plane, or center. Accurate alignment reduces wear, vibration, and energy loss, while misalignment can cause noise, overheating, or premature failure. Practitioners use dial indicators, laser trackers, or precision instruments to measure and correct alignment.

In typography and layout, text alignment defines how lines of text relate to margins: left-aligned, right-aligned, centered, or justified. Alignment affects readability, rhythm, and visual balance in documents, websites, and printed media.

In the field of artificial intelligence and ethics, alignment describes how an agent's behavior matches human values, objectives, and safety constraints. It encompasses value specification, robust execution, and governance to avoid unintended, harmful, or misused actions.

In astronomy, alignment refers to the arrangement of celestial bodies relative to observers on Earth, notably during conjunctions, transits, or eclipses. In biology and bioinformatics, sequence alignment uses scoring schemes and algorithms to compare DNA, RNA, or protein sequences, revealing conserved regions and evolutionary relationships.

In business and information systems, strategic alignment links technology, processes, and organizational goals, ensuring resources and activities support the overall strategy.