Positional

Positional is an adjective used to describe something related to position or to the position of an element within a system. In mathematics and computing, the most common use is in positional numeral systems, also called place-value notation, where the numeric value of a digit depends on its place in a string. In these systems, each position corresponds to a power of the base (for decimal, digits are multiplied by powers of ten). Such systems enable compact representation and straightforward arithmetic. The Hindu–Arabic numeral system is a well-known historical example, and binary, octal, and hexadecimal are modern computer bases.

In information processing, positional encoding refers to methods that inject information about the position of elements in a sequence into representations. This is essential in models that operate on ordered data, such as neural networks for text, where position helps determine meaning.

In music, positional designations describe where the left hand is placed on a string instrument; moving to different positions shifts the fingering and range without changing the pitch class, providing a framework for technique and shift economy.

In chess and strategy games, a positional approach emphasizes the arrangement of pieces and long-term stability over immediate tactical combinations. In sports, positional play can describe tactics that prioritize space control and positioning over brute force.

The term also appears in fields such as anatomy or geography to describe structures defined by their location within a larger system. In each case, positional elements derive their meaning from position within the system.