Struktura

Struktura is a term used in Polish to denote the arrangement of parts that form a whole. The equivalent concept in English is structure. The word derives from Latin structura, from the verb struere, meaning to build or assemble.

In general, a structure describes how components relate to one another and to the whole, including the organization, hierarchy, and function of a system. Structures can be physical, such as a building, a crystal lattice, or an organism’s anatomy, or abstract, such as a social institution, a language, or a software system.

In science and engineering, the study of structure focuses on how arrangement determines properties and behavior. Biological structures range from cells to organ systems; mineral and rock structures reflect geological history; chemical structures describe how atoms bond and arrange in molecules.

In social sciences, structure refers to the patterned arrangement of roles, institutions, and power relations that shape behavior and outcomes. In linguistics, structure governs how signs are organized to form sentences and meaning. In computer science, data structures define how information is stored, accessed, and manipulated, enabling algorithms to run efficiently.

Understanding structure is central to design, analysis, and prediction. Structural analysis evaluates stability and safety in architecture and engineering, while structural models in science and social science help explain complexity by revealing underlying organization.