Arvutikihti

Arvutikihti is a nonstandard Estonian term that blends arvuti (computer) with kiht (layer). It does not have a single, universally accepted definition in formal IT literature and is rarely used in official documentation. In practice, it appears mainly in informal writing and discussions about computing architecture, where writers use it to refer to a layer within a computer system, though the exact scope is ambiguous.

Etymology and usage context

The word is formed from common Estonian roots and is not part of standard IT vocabulary. Because it is nonstandard, its meaning can vary by author. Some writers use arvutikihti to denote any layer in a computing stack—from hardware and firmware to operating system components, middleware, and application layers—while others reserve it for more general discussions of layered design principles.

Relation to standard terms

In formal writing, more precise terms are preferred, such as arvutikiht (computer layer), riistvarakiht (hardware layer), operatsioonisüsteemi kiht (OS layer), or tarkvarakiht (software layer). Arvutikihti is therefore typically encountered in blogs, forum discussions, or speculative texts rather than in official curricula or standard glossaries.

Characteristics

Because the term is not standardized, its interpretation is context-dependent. When used, it usually aims to convey the idea of a distinct layer within a computer system or software stack, emphasizing architecture, abstraction, or separation of concerns. Readers should rely on surrounding context to determine the intended scope.

See also

OSi model, software architecture, hardware abstraction layer, software layers, cloud service layers.