fragment

A fragment is a small part that has broken away from a larger object or system. The term, derived from Latin fragmentum meaning a piece broken off, is used across many disciplines to denote an incomplete or detached portion.

In physical contexts, fragments are common in archaeology, geology, and material culture. Pottery, glass, bone, or metal fragments survive after breakage and can provide information about past technologies, trade, or dating. Mineral grains or rock fragments are studied to understand geological processes. In forensics, fragments of evidence may be analyzed to reconstruct events.

In language and literature, a fragment can refer to an incomplete sentence lacking a main clause, or to a short excerpt from a larger text. Fragments may be intentional, used as stylistic devices, or may indicate an unfinished draft or quotation.

In computing and information technology, fragmentation denotes the division of data into parts. File-system fragmentation occurs when a file’s blocks are scattered, potentially slowing access. Fragmentation can occur in networks when large messages are split for transmission. In graphics, a fragment is the output of a fragment shader, describing the color and other attributes of a pixel in the final image. In web development, a DocumentFragment is a lightweight container used to assemble a portion of the DOM before insertion into the document.

In software design, an Android Fragment is a modular component that represents a portion of a user interface within an activity. Fragments have their own lifecycle and can be reused across activities or layouts, facilitating flexible and dynamic UI design.