Entiteetti

Entiteetti is a Finnish term meaning an entity, i.e., something that exists independently or is conceived as a distinct unit within a given context. The concept is used across fields to denote a thing with identity, boundary, and, often, consistent properties.

Philosophy and ontology: An entity can refer to any object, being, or abstract construct that exists or is posited as existing. In ontological discussions, entities are contrasted with processes, events, or relational constructs; debates may concern which items count as entities and under what criteria they remain identifiable.

Information systems and data modelling: In database design and the entity–relationship model, an entity is a thing about which data is stored. An entity type defines a class of objects with common attributes; an entity instance is a single, unique record. Keys, attributes, and relationships connect entities in a data model.

Natural language processing and linguistics: In NLP, entities are referents that can be named, such as persons, organizations, and locations. Named-entity recognition aims to label these units in text.

Business, law, and administration: A legal entity is an organization that has rights and obligations under the law, distinct from its owners or members. Corporations, government agencies, and associations are common examples.

Other uses: In software and information architecture, the term is used to describe domain objects that encapsulate identity and behavior and are persisted in storage.

Etymology: The word derives from the Latin entitas, from ens, esse, "being". In Finnish, entiteetti has been borrowed and adapted to describe a general notion of an identifiable unit.