niche

Niche is a term used in multiple disciplines to denote a specialized position or role within a larger system. In everyday use, it can refer to a distinct segment of a market or to a specific ecological or functional role an organism occupies. The word originates from Old French niche, meaning a recess or lit, and has long been used to describe a tailored or fitting place.

In ecology, a niche encompasses how an organism makes a living: the resources it uses, the environmental conditions it tolerates, the time of activity, and its interactions with other organisms. The concept distinguishes between the fundamental niche (the full range of conditions and resources a species could use) and the realized niche (what it actually uses in the presence of competitors and predators). Niche breadth describes how specialized or generalized a species is; niche partitioning reduces competition by differentiating resource use.

In business, a niche market is a narrowly defined group of customers with specific needs that are not fully met by general offerings. Niche products or services target this group with tailored features or branding. Advantages include clearer positioning and reduced competition; drawbacks include smaller demand and higher sensitivity to trends, regulatory changes, or supply constraints.

In broader usage, niche can denote a comfortable or appropriate position in a system, or a physically recessed space such as a niche in architecture.

Understanding niche involves examining constraints and opportunities within ecosystems or markets and identifying areas where demand and capability align.