inicializar

Inicializar is a verb used in Spanish and Portuguese to refer to the action of configuring a system, object, or variable to its initial state before it is used. The term is related to the root inicial and the suffix -izar, and is closely connected to the English word initialize. In everyday usage, inicializar contrasts with iniciar, which means to start or begin an activity, while inicializar emphasizes establishing the initial conditions or configuration.

In computing, initialization is a standard phase in which software or hardware is prepared for operation. It often involves allocating resources, setting default values, and loading essential data. Examples include initializing variables or data structures in programming, zero-initializing memory, or performing a startup routine that sets system state and validates peripherals. In programming languages, initialization can occur at declaration, through constructors, or via initialization lists; some languages distinguish between initialization and assignment, the latter changing a value after it has been established.

In hardware and embedded systems, an initialization sequence may include power-on self-test, peripheral setup, clock configuration, and firmware loading, sometimes performed by a bootloader. In databases and software deployment, initialization can refer to seeding baseline data or executing scripts that prepare an environment for use. Overall, inicializar denotes the act of preparing something for its intended use by establishing its starting configuration or state.