endsuse

Endsuse is a term that appears in some industry and academic discussions to describe aspects of the end-use phase of a product or service. It is typically presented as a portmanteau of end and use and is used to draw attention to how the final consumer actually interacts with a product, including usage patterns, energy draw, maintenance needs, and disposal considerations. The concept emphasizes the real-world application of a design rather than its abstract specifications.

There is no single, widely accepted definition of endsuse. The term remains informal and is not standardized across fields. In practice, writers may employ it to highlight user-centered design and sustainability concerns within lifecycle assessment, product development, or human–computer interaction research. In these contexts, endsuse can frame questions about how design choices affect daily use, long-term performance, and environmental impact.

Endsuse is related to, but distinct from, related terms such as end-use and end user. End-use generally describes the final manner in which energy or materials are consumed by a product, while end user refers to the person who operates or purchases the product. Endsuse, by contrast, seeks to foreground the intersection of actual use and outcomes during the product’s life cycle.

Because of its informal status, endsuse is most reliable when defined within a specific document or study. It is not commonly found in established glossaries and may vary in meaning between authors.

See also: end-use, end user, user experience.