generable

Generable is an adjective meaning capable of being generated, produced, or created by a process or rule. It is used across disciplines to describe objects, quantities, or data that arise from a prescribed method, algorithm, or natural mechanism.

Etymology: the term comes from Latin generare, meaning “to beget,” with the suffix -able.

In mathematics and computer science, generable often refers to elements that can be constructed or computed algorithmically. For example, a number is generable if there exists a finite procedure to produce it; a function or sequence is generable if it can be defined by rules or a recurrence. The term is informal in places and can overlap with constructible or computable, though different communities may use it with slightly different emphasis.

In applied contexts, generable models or quantities are those that can be simulated or produced by a model. Procedural generation uses generative rules to create data such as shapes, textures, or landscapes. The emphasis is on the existence of a generation mechanism rather than on any inherent, preexisting property of the object.

Limitations: generable does not have a universally standardized formal definition and its precise meaning depends on the field and context. It often serves as a descriptive shorthand for processes or rules that produce an outcome, rather than as a strict classification.

See also: constructible, computable, generative.