gyldighed

Gyldighed is a Danish noun that refers to the state or condition of being valid, acceptable, or legally enforceable. It describes how long a document, license, certificate, rule, or claim remains recognized as legitimate in a given context. The term is commonly used in legal, administrative, commercial, and information technology texts.

The concept encompasses both the intrinsic validity of a thing and its period of effectiveness. For example, a contract remains gyldig as long as the terms are met and the agreement has not expired or been terminated. A driver's license or a passport has a specific gyldighedsperiode, after which it is no longer considered valid. In everyday language, phrases such as “gyldig til” or “gyldig indtil” indicate expiration dates or end dates of validity.

In information technology and digital security, gyldighed is used to describe the validity of digital certificates and credentials. A certificate is considered gyldig only within its designated gyldighedsperiode; once that period lapses, the certificate becomes invalid and may require renewal or revocation.

Etymology links gyldighed to the adjective gyldig, both rooted in older Germanic language concepts related to value or standing. In Danish usage, gyldighed is often discussed alongside related terms such as forældelse (prescription or lapse) and udløb (expiry), which highlight different ways in which the status of being valid can end or be determined.