ergänzbar

ergänzbar is a German adjective describing something that can be supplemented, extended, or augmented by additional components, information, or features. It is formed from the verb ergänzen (to supplement) plus the suffix -bar, which yields the sense of “able to be Xed.” In usage, ergä n zbar refers to systems, products, data structures, or documents that can be expanded by adding modules, plugins, fields, or entries, rather than requiring a complete replacement.

In practical terms, the term is common in software, engineering, and catalog descriptions. It often appears in phrases such as ein ergänzbares Softwaresystem (a software system that is expandable by plugins) or ergänzbare Felder (fields that can be extended). The nuance of ergänzbar emphasizes the possibility of future augmentation within an existing base, and it is typically maintained alongside related terms such as erweiterbar (expandable) and anpassbar (customizable), each highlighting slightly different aspects of adaptability.

Etymology and related words: ergänzen means to supplement; Ergänzung is the noun for supplement; Ergänzungsmodul refers to a supplementary module. In English-language contexts, ergänzbar is usually translated as expandable, augmentable, or extensible, depending on the emphasis on adding new components versus modifying existing ones.

See also: modularity, plug-in architecture, add-on, Erweiterbarkeit.