Untertyp

Untertyp is a German term that corresponds to the English subtype. It denotes a more specific form within a broader type and designates a subdivision that inherits properties from its parent while adding distinguishing features or constraints. Subtypes are used to model variation within a category and are often organized in hierarchical relationships.

In information technology and data modeling, Untertypen appear in type hierarchies and object-oriented design. A subtype specializes a supertype, sharing its attributes and operations but enforcing additional constraints or introducing new ones. Relationships can be disjoint, meaning an instance belongs to only one subtype, or overlapping, meaning an instance may belong to several subtypes. Specialization can be total (every instance of the supertype is a subtype) or partial (some instances are not).

In biology and medicine, Untertypen classify variants within a disease, pathogen, or organism. Subtypes often differ in prognosis, symptoms, or response to treatment. Examples include subtypes of breast cancer defined by receptor status and subtypes of influenza A defined by hemagglutinin and neuraminidase proteins.

In linguistics and other disciplines, Untertyp can denote a more specific category within a broader typology, used to reflect systematic variation across instances. The term highlights the idea that complex categories can be broken down into more precise, attribute-driven forms.

See also: Subtype, Supertype, Specialization.