checkedout

Checkedout is a term used to describe the status of an item that has been borrowed, retrieved, or assigned for editing by a user. In prose, the phrase is usually written as “checked out,” but in software and data schemas it often appears as a single word, checkedout, or as a field name such as checkedOut or checked_out.

In libraries and lending contexts, an item becomes checked out when a patron borrows it. The item is typically removed from general circulation, a due date is assigned, and the item may incur fines if returned late. The system tracks who checked it out and when, and the item often remains unavailable to others until it is returned or renewed.

In software development and content management, check-out refers to the process of obtaining a working copy from a repository or locking a document for editing. In centralized version control systems, a user may check out a file or project to prevent others from making conflicting changes. In some systems, checking out also means a lock is placed on the item until it is checked back in or released. In distributed systems like Git, the concept exists informally: files or branches are checked out or switched, but there is typically no global lock.

In data models and user interfaces, checkedOut is commonly represented as a boolean flag or status field, often accompanied by metadata such as the user who checked it out and the checkout timestamp. This helps coordinate access and prevent conflicting edits.

See also: checkout, check-in, version control, library circulation.