Placething

Placething is an informal, generic identifier used in discussions of design, software development, and linguistics to denote an object or concept whose exact identity has not yet been determined. It serves as a placeholder name, enabling conversations about structure, layout, or behavior without committing to a concrete item. The term is not part of formal taxonomies or standards and is uncommon in published literature outside of casual or draft material.

Etymology: The word appears to be a portmanteau of place and thing, used to signify “the thing at this place.” It tends to occur in whiteboard notes, early-stage specifications, and mockups rather than in final documentation.

Usage: In UI/UX prototyping, a placething can stand in for a control or panel at a given location. In API or data modeling, it can represent a resource or entity to be defined later. In linguistics or thought experiments, placethings may be used to discuss hypothetical referents without specifying their properties. Example: “Replace the placething with the actual object once the requirements are clarified.”

Characteristics: A placething is intentionally non-specific. It should be replaced with a real item, property, or name as soon as decisions are made. It helps maintain momentum during early design or analysis but should not appear in final artifacts without replacement.

Limitations: Because it is informal, the term can confuse readers unfamiliar with the concept. Prefer explicit placeholders (e.g., “TBD-1”) or precise terminology in formal documents.

See also: placeholder, placeholder name, stand-in, dummy variable.