Attributes

Attributes are properties or characteristics that describe entities, objects, events, or concepts. They convey information about what something is like, how it is related to other things, or how it can be identified. Attributes can be intrinsic to an entity, arising from its nature, or extrinsic, depending on context or perspective. They are fundamental in classification, data modeling, and description across disciplines.

In philosophy, attributes (or properties) are the features that a thing possesses. Some attributes are essential, defining the thing’s identity, while others are accidental and may change without altering the core nature.

In logic and linguistics, attributes correspond to predicates that ascribe a property to a subject, enabling statements such as “The cat is black.” In programming, an attribute (often called a property or field) stores data about an object or class. Attributes have data types, constraints, and may be read-only or computed.

In databases and data modeling, attributes are the columns of a relation or the fields of a record, each with a domain of permissible values. Attribute design affects data integrity and query performance. In metadata and data interchange, attributes provide metadata about elements or data items; for example, an element might have attributes describing its source, size, or role.

In markup and user interfaces, attributes supply metadata about elements or components, often influencing behavior or presentation. Proper attribute design supports data quality, interoperability, and clear communication of intent.

See also: property, characteristic, trait, feature, attribute-value pair.