Sémák

Sémák is the plural form of the word "séma," used in several languages to denote structured templates, patterns or frameworks that organize information, behavior or formal systems. The term derives from the Greek skhēma, meaning "shape" or "form," and is applied across disciplines with related but distinct meanings.

In cognitive psychology, sémák (schemas) are mental representations that help individuals organize knowledge, guide perception and influence memory and reasoning. They function as prototypes or scripts for typical events and can both facilitate understanding and introduce bias. In computer science and information management, sémák refer to formal descriptions of data structures—database schemas, XML schemas and JSON schemas—that define the organization, constraints and types of stored information. In programming, schema-like patterns are used for validation, serialization and interoperability.

In linguistics and semiotics, sémák denote recurrent syntactic or narrative templates that speakers use to construct sentences and discourse. In music theory, the term describes characteristic melodic or harmonic patterns used in composition and analysis. In architecture and design, sémák can mean standardized plans or modular templates.

Because the term is broad and context-dependent, its precise meaning is defined by disciplinary conventions. Across fields, sémák share the common function of reducing complexity by providing a reusable structure for interpreting, generating or validating forms of information or behavior.