Trükialusel

Trükialusel is an Estonian term used to indicate that a work or document exists in printed form or is based on printed media, as opposed to electronic or digital formats. The word is formed from the root trükk ('print') and alus ('base' or 'substrate'), with the suffix -usel functioning to express a state or condition ('on the basis of printing'). The associated noun trükialus refers to the printing base or the physical medium used for printing, such as paper.

In publishing, library science and archival descriptions, trükialusel is primarily used to distinguish materials that are distributed in print from those available electronically or in other non-printed formats. It may appear in metadata, catalog records, or notes describing format, edition, or accessibility. The term emphasizes the material nature and physical existence of the work, which can be relevant for citation, preservation, and access decisions.

Compared with digital or electronic format descriptors, trükialusel can carry connotations about reproduction quality, papermaterial, and access conditions typical of traditional print media. It is one of several format-related descriptors used in Estonian bibliographic practice.

See also: trükialus, trükivorm, formaat.