endstates

Endstate, or end state, is a term used across disciplines to denote the final condition, outcome, or configuration that a process aims to produce or will eventually reach. It emphasizes the intended end rather than the steps taken to reach it and is often defined in terms of observable criteria or capabilities.

In military and strategic planning, the end state describes the desired political, security, and governance conditions after an operation. It provides a reference point for campaigns, resource allocation, and risk assessment. In public policy and governance, end states articulate the long-term objective of reforms or programs, frequently expressed through measurable indicators such as stability, resilience, or service delivery levels.

In engineering and systems analysis, the end state refers to the stable operating configuration or completed system once requirements are satisfied and performance targets are met. In computing, it can denote the final or accepting state of a finite-state machine or process, indicating that a task is finished. In project management, the end state defines the target condition for deliverables and ongoing operations at project closure or handover.

Defining an end state typically involves specifying criteria, indicators, and conditions that are observable or measurable. End states may evolve as assumptions change or new information becomes available, and different stakeholders may hold competing visions of the final condition. Related concepts include final state, goal, and objective, which frame but do not necessarily determine the exact end condition.