Vordefinierte

Vordefinierte is a German adjective meaning "predefined" or "pre-established." It describes values, rules, configurations, or components that have been defined in advance by a system, standard, or specification rather than being determined at run time or by a user. The term is common in technical writing, software development, data modeling, and documentation.

Originating from vor- (before) and definieren (to define), vordefinierte can take different inflected forms depending on gender and number. The most frequent usage is as an attributive adjective, for example vordefinierte Werte (predefined values) or vordefinierte Felder (predefined fields). The short form vordefiniert is also encountered in some contexts, often as a participle adjective.

Typical contexts and examples include software configuration, where systems offer vordefinierte Presets or vordefinierte Parameter; user interfaces, which present vordefinierte Optionen in dropdown lists; and data models or APIs that expose vordefinierte Werte within a schema or specification. In documentation, “vordefinierte” helps distinguish fixed, built-in options from user-specified choices. Example sentences: “Die Anwendung liefert vordefinierte Werte für das Feld Status.” “Nutzer können die vordefinierten Presets verwenden oder eigene Werte anpassen.”

Related terms include Standardwerte and default values, which convey a similar idea in English or in broader contexts. While vordefinierte emphasizes predefinition, it is closely linked to concepts of defaults, presets, and fixed configurations in both technical and general German usage.