områden

Områden is the plural form of the Swedish noun område, which can mean area, region, zone, or domain. The term is used across everyday language to describe both physical spaces and abstract spaces such as fields of study or spheres of activity.

In geography and urban planning, områden denote defined spatial units such as regions, districts, or zones. Common compound terms include bostadsområden (residential areas), handelsområden (commercial areas), and industriområden (industrial areas). Municipal planning and zoning rely on delineations of områden to organize services, infrastructure, and land use.

In mathematics and related disciplines, område is used to describe a domain or region. For example, området för en funktion translates as the function's domain; öppet område is the Swedish term for an open set in topology. The concept also appears in science and policy when referring to distinct fields or sectors, such as forskningen områden (areas of research).

Usage extends to everyday speech and official documents, where områden may be categorized or analyzed to highlight differences, similarities, or priorities within a country or city.