Profil

Profil is a term used in several languages to denote an outline, contour, or summary of identity. It derives from the French profil, meaning an outline or silhouette, and has been adopted in various linguistic contexts with similar meanings. In everyday use, profil often refers to a personal profile on a digital platform or a biographical summary presented in a résumé or portfolio. A profile page typically includes a name, photograph, biographical notes, and links or attributes that identify the person or entity; visibility can be public or restricted by privacy settings.

In social, professional, and online contexts, profil also describes a concise portrait of a person or organization, used to convey key information quickly. The concept extends to professional applications such as a “profil” section in résumés or company pages that highlights expertise, experience, or services.

Beyond personal identity, profil appears in technical fields. In cartography and geomorphology, a profile refers to a cross-sectional representation of terrain, a river valley, or a built form, showing variations in elevation or shape along a chosen line of observation. In some languages, the same root is used for related concepts such as a vertical or horizontal section in engineering drawings or architectural studies.

In criminology and behavioral sciences, profiling or profilage is the method of inferring characteristics of unknown individuals based on patterns and evidence. Translations of profil may appear in texts discussing these methods, though the English term “profiling” is more common.

See also: profile, profiling, silhouette.