materialization

Materialization is the process by which something that is abstract, potential, or invisible becomes tangible or physical. The term derives from Latin materiare and material, and in common usage denotes the actualization of ideas, plans, or phenomena into real objects or events. Depending on context, materialization may refer to the appearance of matter, the making concrete of a concept, or the manifestation of something previously unseen.

In computing and data management, materialization refers to creating a concrete, stored representation of a computed result. A materialized view, for example, stores the results of a query so subsequent access is faster. Materialization involves a trade-off: faster reads and decreased compute at query time versus storage costs and potential staleness, unless the materialized data is refreshed regularly.

In digital fabrication and manufacturing, materialization describes turning digital designs into physical objects, as in 3D printing or CNC machining. The design is translated to machine instructions and a tangible object is produced, sometimes with post-processing to achieve final properties.

In social science and philosophy, materialization is used to describe the process by which ideas, social relations, or institutions become embodied in material form—through artifacts, infrastructure, or organized practice. It is a key concept in the material turn, emphasizing the co-constitution of the social and the material world.

In fiction and paranormal discourse, materialization can mean the sudden appearance of an entity or object in the physical world, often attributed to magical, supernatural, or speculative causes.