Canonisch

Canonisch is an adjective used in Dutch and other Germanic language contexts to indicate something relating to a canon or to an established rule. In broader usage it denotes something canonical or a standard-form representation that is accepted as correct within a discipline. The term also appears in ecclesiastical and legal contexts to denote matters connected with canon law or with a recognized body of rules.

Etymology: The word derives from Latin canonicus through medieval Latin and from the concept of a canon, itself tracing to Greek kanon, meaning rule or standard. Over time it has acquired specialized senses in religion, law, and various sciences.

Uses in mathematics and computer science: In these fields, canonical form refers to the standard, simplest representation of an object under a given equivalence. Canonicalization is the process of converting data to that form. Examples include the Jordan canonical form in linear algebra and canonical models in logic. These notions help compare, store, or reason about objects without regard to incidental representations.

Ecclesiastical and legal contexts: In such contexts, canonisch or kanonisch relates to canon law—the body of laws and norms developed by a church. The terminology is used to describe texts, authorities, or persons that belong to the recognized framework of rules.

Culture and literature: The term also connects to the concept of the canon, a body of accepted works or authorities. A work may attain canonical status when it is broadly acknowledged as part of the established canon.

See also: Canon, Canonical form, Canonicalization.