Informim

Informim is a term used in certain discussions within information science to describe a proposed approach to representing complex information with a compact, semantically rich form suitable for transmission and storage. The term has appeared sporadically in conference abstracts and blog posts since the early 2020s. No formal definition has achieved widespread acceptance, and informim is not included in major encyclopedias or standard taxonomies.

Because there is no canonical definition, informim is described in several ways. Some sources describe it as a formalism for modular information units that capture essential meaning while enabling efficient composition. Others use informim to refer to a workflow that emphasizes information minimization and interoperability across systems.

The origins are unclear, with multiple independent authors citing minimal context. The term tends to appear in discussions about content representation, metadata schemas, and data exchange protocols, often in informal or speculative contexts rather than peer-reviewed literature.

It overlaps with ideas from information theory, data compression, and semantic metadata. It is sometimes presented as complementary to existing standards rather than as a replacement.

As of now, informim remains a niche term without a stable, widely adopted definition. It is primarily of interest to researchers and practitioners exploring novel approaches to information representation and exchange.

See also information theory, data compression, metadata, information representation, interoperability.