detat

Detat is a neologism used in speculative and interdisciplinary discussions to denote a transitional or resultant state associated with data and its materialization. The term is not established in formal disciplines and lacks a universal definition. It appears in online glossaries, speculative essays, and some works of fiction where it is used to signal the moment when abstract data becomes a tangible or processable artifact.

Etymology and origins are uncertain; the word is commonly interpreted as a blend of data and état (state) or as a portmanteau involving de- and état. Because of its informal status, different authors may attach slightly different nuances to the term.

Definitions and usage: In theory, detat may refer to a persistent representation created after a computational process, signaling a bridge between ephemeral computation and stable storage. In literary or media contexts, detat can describe a transformative moment when information achieves material form, enabling interaction with the physical world or a simulated environment.

Reception and critique: Critics argue that detat is underspecified and risks conflating distinct concepts such as data, state, persistence, and artifact. Proponents view it as a useful heuristic for discussing data-materiality and the ontology of digital objects, especially in discussions of how information becomes something that can be stored, transmitted, or interacted with.

See also: Data persistence, State (computer science), Data artifact, Information theory, Digital ontology.