metalevel

Metalevel refers to the level of abstraction that analyzes, controls, or transforms the level below it—the object level. In logic and philosophy, the metalevel is the domain in which metatheory, metalevel statements, and meta-logic are formulated, distinct from the object language of a theory. The distinction between object language and metalanguage is a core tool for examining properties such as consistency, completeness, and soundness without confounding them with the content of the theory itself.

In computer science and artificial intelligence, metalevel denotes programs, mechanisms, or architectures that reason about or manipulate another program or system. Metaprogramming, reflection, and introspection are common examples, as are metalevel control components in cognitive architectures that supervise or adjust object-level behavior. Model-driven engineering also uses metamodels to describe the structure of models at an abstraction level above the models themselves.

In statistics and machine learning, metalevel reasoning can refer to reasoning about models or learning processes, including approaches that aim to learn how to learn (meta-learning) or to compare and adapt models based on higher-level criteria. The term is used to indicate a higher tier of analysis or control that governs the selection, evaluation, or adaptation of the lower-level components. Overall, metalevel denotes the conceptual space above a given level, where analysis, design, and regulation of that level take place.