dereflection

Dereflection is a term used across multiple disciplines to denote the act of reducing or removing reflection. It is not a standardized concept with a single definition; its precise meaning depends on the domain and context. In general, it concerns diminishing reflective effects that can interfere with transmission, measurement, or security.

In optics and photonics, dereflection refers to techniques and designs aimed at minimizing reflections at interfaces between materials. Common approaches include anti-reflective coatings, index matching, surface texturing, and graded-index layers. The goal is to maximize light transmission, improve signal strength in sensors, and increase efficiency in optical components.

In computer science and software engineering, the term is used to describe efforts to reduce or eliminate the use of runtime reflection features. Reflection enables a program to inspect and modify its own structure and behavior. Dereflection practices may involve restricting or removing reflection APIs, using static typing or code generation instead, and tuning compilers or runtimes to avoid reflection overhead for performance, security, or portability reasons.

Given its cross-domain usage, dereflection is best understood within its specific context. The term is not universally defined, and some authors may describe related but distinct ideas such as anti-reflection or de-referencing, depending on discipline.