Matnings

Matnings is a Swedish noun derived from the verb mata, meaning to feed. It denotes the act of providing feed, input, or supply to a recipient, and its precise sense depends on the context.

In biology and agriculture, matning describes feeding regimes for animals or the supply of nutrients to crops, including the amount, timing, and type of feed or fertilizer. The concept is central to livestock management, dairy production, and horticulture, where appropriate matning affects growth, health, and yield.

In engineering and technology, matning is used to refer to the provision of input to a system. This can involve electrical signals, mechanical drive, or data that enters a process or control loop. In Swedish technical writing, inmatning is often used for data input, while matning appears in phrases such as matningssystem, referring to a system that delivers material or resources to a production line or machine.

In information technology and research, matning may denote data input to a program or model, though alternative terms like inmatning or dataingång are also common depending on the context.

Etymology and relation to similar terms: matning is formed by mata 'to feed' plus ning, a nominal suffix. It is distinct from mätning, which means measurement, and from inmatning, which emphasizes entering data or power. See also matningssystem and related concepts in feeding and input provision.