Vorhandensein

Vorhandensein is a German noun that denotes the state of being present or existing, or the fact that something is present in a given context. The term can refer to physical presence, the existence of a property, or the presence of an object within a system, dataset, or argument. It is commonly used in formal, technical, and analytical writing to assert that something exists or is available, rather than merely being conceptually possible.

Etymology and usage notes: Vorhandensein is formed from the adjective vorhanden (present, available) with the nominal suffix -sein, yielding a noun that expresses “the state of being present.” In philosophy and everyday language, Existenz tends to denote existence in a broader sense, while Vorhandensein emphasizes presence within a defined scope or context. The usual construction is das Vorhandensein von …, for example das Vorhandensein von Beweisen or das Vorhandensein von Fehlern. In contrast, nicht vorhanden or Abwesenheit convey absence or nonexistence. In data, science, and law, the phrase helps specify whether a feature, item, or condition is actually present in a given set or situation.