Plateforme

Plateforme is a term used to describe a flat or level surface that serves as a base for something else, or as a base of operations. In general terms, a platform denotes a raised, stable element that provides support, access, or a stage for interaction. The word derives from combining plate (flat) and forme (shape or structure), with historical usage in French as plateforme and in related languages.

As a physical feature, a platform appears in transportation settings as the raised area beside tracks where passengers board trains, or in stations where goods are loaded and unloaded. Platform design emphasizes safety, accessibility, and alignment with vehicle floors. Common features include tactile paving, edge markings, lighting, shelters, seating, and passenger information systems.

In computing and business, a platform is a base environment that supports the development, operation, or delivery of services. Examples include operating systems (Windows, Linux), cloud platforms (AWS, Azure), and digital marketplaces or social networks that connect participants. Platformization describes the shift toward multi-sided ecosystems in which network effects increase value as participation grows.

Other uses are widespread: a work or loading platform in industry; a stage or dais used in performances; and in politics, a platform refers to a party’s or candidate’s stated principles and policy proposals. The term thus covers both physical structures and abstract environments that enable interaction, production, or exchange.