Ekvivalento

Ekvivalento is a term used to describe a relationship or state in which two objects, expressions, or systems are equal in some respect—value, meaning, function, or effect. It is widely used in mathematics, logic, linguistics, and computer science, and in Esperanto as the standard term for the concept of equivalence itself.

In mathematics and logic, ekvivalento refers to an equivalence relation, a relation that is reflexive, symmetric, and transitive. It partitions a set into equivalence classes of items that are equivalent under the relation. Examples include congruence modulo n on integers, and logical equivalence between propositions A and B, written A ↔ B.

In linguistics and translation studies, equivalence describes the degree to which a source text and a target text correspond in meaning, style, and function. There are various notions of equivalence, including formal, dynamic, or functional equivalence, depending on the translation approach.

In computer science, program equivalence concerns whether two programs produce the same outputs for all inputs. Observational or behavioral equivalence focuses on external behavior rather than internal structure, and is central to program optimization, compiler correctness, and formal verification.

Etymology and usage notes: while ekvivalento is the Esperanto term, the concept appears under different names in other languages (equivalence, equivalent, equivalence relation). See also related terms: equivalent, equivalence class, logical equivalence, congruence.