boilerplate

Boilerplate refers to text, code, or other material that is standard and repeated with little or no modification across multiple documents or projects. The term has roots in older publishing and manufacturing practices, where standardized blocks or plates were used repeatedly, giving rise to the notion of a durable, reusable component.

In journalism and public relations, boilerplate is a short, pre-written paragraph about a company or organization that is included at the end of press releases or media kits. It typically describes the entity’s mission, products, and contact information, and is updated periodically.

In legal contexts, boilerplate refers to standard contract clauses that appear in many agreements, such as governing law, arbitration, indemnification, and liability limits. They are intended to be neutral, but may not fit every situation and should be reviewed by counsel.

In software development, boilerplate code is sections of code that provide the basic structure and functionality common to many programs, such as class definitions, imports, or license headers. Frameworks and templates often supply boilerplate to speed up development, though excessive boilerplate can hinder readability and maintainability.

In other uses, boilerplate can describe templates for documents, reports, or communications that are reused with minimal changes. Best practices include keeping boilerplate accurate and up to date, clearly separating fixed text from variable content, and documenting changes in version control.