gridside

Gridside is a term used in several technical domains to describe an interface or boundary associated with a grid. It is often used to refer to the side of a grid or a component that faces outward toward other systems or regions of space in discrete models, simulations, or networks.

In grid computing and distributed systems, gridside elements or gridside interfaces describe boundary nodes, gateways, or services that connect a local resource grid to external grids or networks. Gridside components handle data exchange, authentication, and orchestration across domains, and are contrasted with endpoint or resource nodes that perform computation or storage.

In electrical engineering and power systems, grid-side (often hyphenated) describes equipment connected to the electric grid, such as grid-side converters, transformers, or switchgear. The term is used to distinguish devices that interface with the grid from load-side devices that connect to consumers or local networks.

In numerical simulations and lattice-based modeling, gridside can denote quantities defined on grid points (sites) as opposed to cell centers or cell faces. This distinction is common in finite-difference and lattice methods and influences stencil operations and boundary conditions.

Usage of gridside varies by field, and the term is sometimes written as grid-side or grid side. The overarching idea is that gridside refers to the boundary, interface, or side of a grid structure where interaction with external systems or particular variable placements occurs.

See also: grid, grid cell, boundary condition, grid computing, power grid, lattice site, finite difference method.