fortlaufliche

Fortlaufliche is a German adjective meaning ongoing, continuous, or sequential, typically used to describe processes, data, or items that appear in a continuous sequence without interruption. It is common in administrative, technical, and publishing contexts, where it characterizes systems or tasks that proceed in a steady, ordered manner, such as numbering, logging, or data collection.

Grammatically, fortlaufliche appears in attributive position before feminine singular nouns. It is declined like other weak adjectives after a definite article: die fortlaufliche Nummerierung, der fortlauflichen Nummerierung, die fortlaufliche Ausgabe. With an indefinite article or no article, the endings differ (fortlaufliche in many common uses). The base form fortlaufend is also used as a predicative or adverbial form meaning “continuously” or “onward.”

Common usages include fortlaufliche Nummerierung (continuous, sequential numbering without gaps), fortlaufliche Protokollierung (continuous logging of events), and fortlaufliche Datenerfassung (ongoing data collection). In publishing or distribution, terms like fortlaufliche Ausgabe may describe a serial issue released in a continuing series. In IT and business contexts, fortlaufliche Prozesse and fortlaufliche Berichte refer to workflows and reports produced in a continuous, orderly sequence.

Nuance and relation to other terms: fortlauflich emphasizes ordering and continuity in a sequence, while kontinuierlich stresses uninterrupted duration. In many practical contexts, fortlaufliche is part of standardized phrases describing systematic, non-disruptive operations. See also fortlaufende Nummerierung, kontinuierlich, und Protokollierung.