Skalen

Skalen is the plural form of Skala in German and is used to denote scales or gradations across a range of disciplines. The term originates from the general idea of steps or levels, and in German it forms the plural Skalen with the typical suffix -en.

In music, a Skala refers to a consecutive series of pitches that forms the basis for melodies and harmonies. Although the word Skala is still understood, the more common German word for this concept is Tonleiter. Skala can appear in technical discussions or in particular musical contexts.

In measurement and data analysis, Skala describes a scale used to quantify or categorize attributes. This includes nominal, ordinal, interval, and ratio scales, as well as rating scales in surveys (for example, Likert-Skala). The concept of a scale in this sense is central to how data are collected, interpreted, and compared.

In cartography, statistics, and data visualization, Skalen or Skala can denote graduated ranges that map values to positions, colors, or symbols. Color scales and axis scales are common examples, helping readers interpret magnitudes and relationships in charts, maps, and diagrams.

Overall, Skalen functions as a general term for ordered sequences, gradations, or frameworks used to quantify, compare, or represent information in language, music, science, and visualization. See also Skala, Skala-based terminology in related fields.