immutabile

Immutabile is an Italian adjective meaning unchangeable or immutable. It is used to describe things whose essential properties or state cannot be altered after they are established. In common language it is often paired with mutabile (mutable) to distinguish between fixed versus changeable conditions. The term comes from Latin immutabilis, formed from in- (not) and mutare (to change).

In philosophy and theology, immutability refers to the quality of being unchanging in essence, particularly in discussions of divine nature. Classical theism often attributes immutability to God, asserting that God’s fundamental attributes do not vary over time. In metaphysical discussions, immutability can contrast with processes that involve change, becoming, or development.

In information technology and computer science, immutability describes data or state that cannot be altered after creation. Immutable data structures allow operations that create new versions rather than changing existing ones, aiding reasoning about programs and enabling safe concurrent execution. Common examples include strings in many programming languages and persistent data structures. Immutable design is a core principle in functional programming languages such as Haskell and Clojure, and it underpins concepts like referential transparency.

In data management and auditing, immutability is taken as a property of records and logs that are not modified post-creation. Immutable logs and append-only storage support traceability and integrity, and are central to blockchain technology and certain regulatory compliance practices.

Overall, immutabile denotes a fundamental quality of rigidity or permanence across domains, contrasting with mutabile and dynamic change.