Platforma

Platforma is a term used in several languages, most notably Polish, to denote a platform: a raised, flat surface for boarding or loading; a base or stage for activities; or a computing or business environment that supports other services. In physical terms, a platform is found at train stations, airports, or bus stops, and may include features like shelter, seating, signage, and safety barriers.

Etymology traces the word to Late Latin platea “broad street” via French plateforme or Italian piattaforma, with influence on various languages, including Polish where platforma is standard for both physical platforms and abstract platforms.

In technology and business, platforma or platform denotes an underlying environment that enables other software, services, or participants to interact. Computing platforms include operating systems such as Windows, Linux, and macOS, mobile platforms such as iOS and Android, and cloud platforms such as AWS and Azure. Platform-based business models create value by facilitating exchanges between multiple user groups, as in marketplaces or app ecosystems.

In politics, a party's platform is the set of principles and policies it supports. The term is often rendered as “platforma” in Polish and other languages to refer to a party’s program. A notable example is Platforma Obywatelska (Civic Platform), a major center-right political party in Poland founded in 2001, which uses the term in both Polish and international references.

See also: platform, platform economics, two-sided market, app store, political platform.