Mappingek

Mappingek is a term used in some technical contexts to describe a class of data transformations that map elements from a source domain to elements in a target domain according to defined rules. The word is not standardized across disciplines and may be used synonymously with the mathematical notion of a mapping or function, or to emphasize practical, rule-based data transformations used in information systems, model driven engineering, and data integration. The plural form mappingek reflects its use to refer to multiple such transformations within a given context.

Formal idea and properties: A mappingek consists of a domain, a codomain, and a set of rules that assign each domain element to exactly one codomain element. Common properties include totality (every domain element has an image), determinism (the image is fixed for a given input), and the possibility of composition (the result of applying one mappingek after another yields a new mappingek). In some frameworks, mappingek are required to preserve structure, such as relationships or constraints, leading to notions akin to homomorphisms or isomorphisms in algebra and graph theory.

Types and examples: Mappingek appear in various forms, including relational mappings between database schemas, graph mappings between nodes and edges, and ontological mappings that align concepts across knowledge bases. A simple example is a rule that maps a source record with fields A and B to a target record with fields X and Y, where X equals A and Y equals a transformed version of B (for instance, B converted to a standardized format).

Applications: They are used in data migration, schema evolution, ETL processes, model transformations, and semantic data integration, where systematic and auditable mappings between domains are required.

See also: mapping, function, homomorphism, schema mapping, data transformation.