Preentered

Preentered is an adjective used to describe data or information that has already been entered into a system prior to the point at which it is used or displayed. The term emphasizes the timing of data entry, distinguishing preentered data from information entered during the current operation.

In information technology, preentered data commonly appears as prepopulated or prefilled fields in forms, databases, or user interfaces. Such fields may be populated from a user’s profile, previous submissions, or external data sources, enabling faster completion and reducing input errors. Preentered data can improve user experience in applications like checkout forms, registration pages, or data-entry pipelines.

The term is informal and not universally standardized; many practitioners prefer terms like prefilled, prepopulated, or auto-filled for similar concepts. When used, preentered often highlights the temporal aspect—that the data existed in advance of the present action rather than being entered on the spot. Privacy and data-staleness considerations may arise with preentered information, especially if it is not refreshed or if users expect control over what is prepopulated.

See also: autofill, prefill, prepopulation, auto-fill forms.