Kohdeavain

Kohdeavain is a Finnish term that literally means “target key.” In Finnish technical and informational contexts it is used to refer to an identifier that locates or selects a specific target within a system, dataset, or process. The word is composed of kohde (target, object) and avain (key), making its meaning readily interpretable in many fields.

In data management and databases, a kohdeavain typically corresponds to an identifier such as a primary key or a unique reference that identifies a particular record or entity to which operations are applied. In software development and APIs, the concept is used to route data or actions to the correct destination or to select the appropriate target service or resource.

In security and cryptography, the term may be used in contexts where a key is associated with a particular target or recipient, for example in access policies or secure communications. However, such usage is less standardized globally and tends to be context-specific within Finnish terminology.

In indexing, cataloging, or data integration, a kohdeavain can serve as a reference key that helps relate items to a specific target topic, object, or category. Because it is a generic compound noun, its precise meaning can vary across industries; it is commonly understood as a marker that identifies the intended target for an operation or query.

See also: key, primary key, identifier, reference key, data routing.