addressability

Addressability is the property of a system to locate and access its components or data at a unique address or identifier, enabling targeted control, retrieval, or communication.

In computing, addressability describes how a memory or I/O system maps locations to addresses. The size of the address space determines how many distinct locations can be addressed. Memory can be byte-addressable, where each byte has a unique address, or word-addressable, where addresses reference larger units. An address bus carries addresses from the CPU to memory or peripherals, and addressing modes define how those addresses are computed during program execution.

In networks and hardware, devices are addressed with unique identifiers such as MAC addresses, IP addresses, or device-specific addresses on buses such as I2C or SPI. Addressing schemes enable routing, data transfer, and device communication within local or wide-area networks and embedded systems.

In marketing and digital media, addressability refers to the ability to target content to specific individuals or households using data and identifiers. Addressable advertising and experiences aim to match messages to a defined audience across channels, often leveraging cookies, device IDs, and CRM data to measure relevance and effectiveness.

In consumer electronics, addressable LEDs are components that can be controlled individually on a strip or panel. Each LED has its own address, allowing precise color and brightness control across complex lighting effects.

Overall, addressability centers on directing actions toward specific locations, devices, or people within a system. Its effectiveness depends on the available addressing schemes and raises considerations regarding privacy and security.