Interlocke

Interlocke is a term used in various contexts to describe a mutual locking or interdependence between parts, states, or ideas. The word is a blend of interlock with the stylistic suffix -e and does not belong to a single, standardized glossary. In technical writing and design discourse, interlocke is sometimes employed to characterize mechanisms or processes in which the operation of one component conditions the state of another. This can include safety interlocks in machinery, where one action cannot proceed until another has occurred; or in user interface design, where a sequence must be completed before the next step becomes available. The concept also appears in software design discussions as a loose pattern in which modules must reach compatible states to maintain consistency.

In culture and media, Interlocke has been used as a proper name for fictional characters, organizations, or artifact concepts. It may appear in game lore, speculative fiction, or branding to evoke ideas of connection, synchronization, or mutual constraint.

Etymology and variants: The form interlocke is a derivative of the common verb interlock and is sometimes used as a stylistic or branding spelling. It is distinct from the standard noun interlock and from interlock when used as a proper name.

See also: interlock, interlocking mechanism, synchronization, dependency, lockstep.