Objekt

Objekt is a German noun meaning object or entity and is used across many fields to refer to things that can be observed, acted upon, or discussed. It can denote concrete items such as a chair or an abstract concept such as a goal. The term derives from Latin obiectum and entered German via Old French objet.

In grammar, Objekt denotes a syntactic function within a sentence. The most common types are Akkusativobjekt and Dativobjekt, corresponding to the direct and indirect object in English. Example: "Ich sehe den Hund"—den Hund is the Akkusativobjekt. "Ich gebe dem Mann den Ball"—dem Mann is the Dativobjekt. Genitivobjekt is rare in modern German and is usually replaced by a prepositional phrase.

In philosophy and epistemology, das Objekt (the object) is the thing as it is known, studied, or represented, in contrast to das Subjekt (the subject). The term is central in discussions of objectivity, ontology, and the relation between observer and observed.

In computing, Objekt is the German word for the programming concept "object" in object-oriented programming. An Objekt is an instance of a Klasse (class), encapsulating data (Eigenschaften) and behavior (Methoden). Objects have identity and state and interact by invoking methods or sending messages. Common programming languages that use this concept include Java, C++, and C#.

In art and everyday usage, Objekt can describe a concrete artefact or artwork. In Dada and contemporary art, the term emphasizes the material presence of a thing, such as a ready-made or found object.