catenated

Catenated is an adjective describing something arranged in a chain or connected by links, or the past participle of the verb catenate. The term derives from Latin catena, meaning chain, and is used in various scientific and technical contexts to indicate a linked or sequential structure.

In chemistry, catenation refers to the bonding of atoms of the same element to form chains or networks. Carbon is the most notable example, as it forms long chains that underlie hydrocarbons and many polymers. Silicon and sulfur can also form catenated structures, though their bonds are typically less stable than carbon’s. Catenation enables a wide range of molecular architectures, from linear chains to cyclic and networked allotropes.

In computing and information technology, concatenation is the operation of joining two strings end to end. A string produced by concatenation is termed a catenated string. Many programming languages provide operators or functions to perform catenation, enabling the creation of longer strings from shorter pieces in a straightforward, typically O(n) operation.

In other disciplines, catenation may be used more loosely to describe items linked in sequence or arranged in a chain. While the core idea remains the same, the specific interpretation can vary by field and context.