Instanci

Instanci is a term used in some technical circles to denote a concrete realization of a model or template. An instanci comprises a set of data and state that instantiate an abstract schema or blueprint, turning generic design into a usable artifact. In software engineering and data modeling, instanci refers to the production of a runtime object or dataset that embodies the structure and constraints defined by a model.

Origin and usage: The term is derived from instantiate and is used mostly in model-driven development, data engineering, and digital twin platforms. It is not part of a formal specification in most standards, and its usage varies by organization.

Characteristics: An instanci usually carries a unique identity, supports lifecycle management (creation, mutation, versioning, retirement), and records provenance and constraints. It is distinct from the abstract template while closely related to the template's semantics.

Applications and examples: In software development, creating an instanci from a class or template yields a concrete object with its own state. In digital twins and simulation, an instanci represents a real-world entity at a point in time, such as a specific machine with live sensor data.

Creation and management: Instanci are produced by instantiation processes that populate templates with actual values, validate data against constraints, and persist the result in a repository. Good practices include versioning of templates, maintaining lineage, and ensuring consistency between related instanci.

See also: instantiate, instantiation, model-driven engineering, digital twin, object-oriented programming.