kontextsensitive

Kontextsensitive, often written context-sensitive, describes systems, rules, or outputs that depend on surrounding context. In engineering and computer science, context-sensitive behavior means responses vary with inputs, state, or environment, rather than being fixed. This contrasts with context-free or static behavior where the response is the same regardless of context.

In linguistics and formal languages, context-sensitive grammars and languages define productions that depend on neighboring symbols. A typical rule has the form αAβ → αγβ, meaning the nonterminal A can be replaced by γ only in the specified left and right context α and β. Context-sensitive languages, recognized by linear-bounded automata, strictly include context-free languages. The language { a^n b^n c^n | n ≥ 1 } is a classic example used to illustrate the concept.

In computing and software, context-sensitive analysis appears in compilers with type checking and semantic rules that depend on declarations and scope, as well as in editors providing context-sensitive indentation, syntax highlighting, and autocompletion. Context-sensitive user interfaces adjust available actions based on the current focus or state, such as a right-click menu that changes with the selected object. Context-sensitive rendering, including font shaping and ligature substitution, may also depend on surrounding characters.

The term is widely used across disciplines; in English the hyphenated form "context-sensitive" is common, while "kontextsensitive" may appear in German-influenced texts or in branding and specific naming conventions.