Originalordning

Originalordning is a term used in Danish, Norwegian and Swedish to denote the original arrangement or sequence of a set of items as they were encountered or preserved before any rearrangement, processing, or sorting. The concept serves as a baseline reference for how elements were originally ordered.

In data processing and computer science, original order refers to the initial sequence of items before any sorting or reordering. This is particularly important when using stable sorting algorithms, which preserve the relative order of elements that compare as equal. In practical terms, maintaining the original order means that two items with the same key retain their initial positions relative to each other after sorting.

In archival science, original order has a specific meaning tied to provenance and the arrangement of records as created or received by the creator. Preserving original order helps maintain context, relationships, and the historical integrity of the collection. Archivists may rearrange materials only under documented, justifiable circumstances to improve access, but the principle emphasizes maintaining the original sequence whenever possible.

The term is primarily used in Scandinavian languages and is often translated as “original order” in English. It highlights the importance of the initial arrangement in understanding data, documents, and artifacts, as well as in preserving historical context.

See also: stable sort, provenance, archival arrangement, original sequence, dataset integrity.