Kopfende

Kopfende is a German term meaning "head end" or "front end." It designates the leading or initiating end of a device, component, or system. The term is common in German technical writing and is used across engineering, manufacturing, and data-communication contexts. It is formed from Kopf (head) and Ende (end).

In application, Kopfende describes the side of an object that serves as the starting point, input, or connection point to the preceding element. In mechanical and fluid systems, the Kopfende may refer to the upstream or entry point of a tube, hose, pipe, or channel. In electrical, optical, and data-cabling contexts, the Kopfende is typically the end that receives a connector or where signals enter the system. In manufacturing lines and conveyors, the Kopfende can denote the feed end where parts are loaded into a process.

Translations into English vary with domain. Common renderings are "head end," "front end," or "proximal end," but the precise meaning depends on context and is not standardized in English. In German documentation, Kopfende is often contrasted with the opposite end, or with other end terms such as Anfang (beginning) or Ende (end).

Because it is a descriptive label rather than a formal concept, Kopfende appears primarily in manuals, diagrams, and field notes to clarify orientation or flow within a system.