groupable

Groupable is an adjective used to describe objects, data, or structures that can be grouped together based on shared properties or criteria. Grouping is a common operation in data organization and analysis, enabling aggregation, comparison, and simplification of information.

In data processing and databases, groupable data are those fields or records that can serve as keys for grouping operations. Examples include categorizing sales by country, date, or product category. Tools such as SQL's GROUP BY or spreadsheet pivot tables operate on groupable dimensions to compute sums, averages, counts, and other aggregates.

In user interface design, a groupable collection allows users to cluster items into named groups for easier navigation or management. Drag-and-drop grouping, collapsible sections, and label-based grouping are common patterns that rely on groupable items.

Etymology and usage notes: the term is formed by adding the suffix -able to the verb group. It is used across domains where classification by attributes is possible. Alternatives include grouped or classified depending on context.

Limitations: Whether something is groupable depends on the chosen grouping criteria. A property that makes items groupable under one criterion may not apply to another. Grouping can also produce heterogeneous groups if the granularity is poorly chosen.

See also: group, grouping, aggregation, categorization, clustering.