Editelnost

Editelnost is a term used in information design and digital publishing to describe the quality or property of a work that makes it easy to edit. It encompasses how readily content can be modified, corrected, extended, or repurposed by authorized users without compromising integrity. The concept applies to text documents, code, data schemas, multimedia assets, and user interfaces.

Origin and meaning: in Czech, editelnost is formed from editovat, meaning to edit, with the noun suffi x -nost. In English, the term is commonly rendered as editability or editability quality. The idea also appears in other languages with similar constructions and the broader concept of how open a system is to modification.

Key factors: editelnost is influenced by user permissions, editing interfaces (inline editing, forms, or WYSIWYG editors), and the availability of version control, diffs, and audit trails. It is strengthened by clear editing guidelines, consistent metadata, autosave and undo capabilities, and effective conflict resolution. A system with high editelnost aims to minimize editing friction while preserving accuracy, authorship, and provenance.

Applications: high editelnost supports collaborative authoring in wikis, content management systems, word processors, and development environments. It enables rapid iteration, content reuse, and easier localization or adaptation. Features such as revision histories, diff views, and revert functions are central to maintaining trust in editable content.

Considerations and metrics: balancing editability with content integrity is essential to prevent vandalism or unintended changes. Governance, access controls, and review workflows help mitigate risks. Metrics used to assess editelnost include edit frequency, average edit size, time to revert, revision depth, and perceived editing friction by users. Related concepts include version control and track changes.