operanda

Operanda is a Latin noun forming the neuter plural of the gerundive operandum, used in philosophical and logical contexts to denote the things that are to be operated on. It designates the targets or objects of an operation, procedure, or measurement, as opposed to the agents or instruments that perform the operation. Usage varies by author and discipline, and some writers prefer other terminology.

In the philosophy of science and epistemology, operanda can refer to the entities that are defined, manipulated, or tested within an experiment or theoretical proposal. When a concept is given an operational definition, the designated states or values used to realize that definition can be regarded as the operanda of the operation. In historical discussions within logic, operanda may be used to indicate the terms or objects on which a logical operation is performed, such as inputs to a calculation or arguments to a function.

In modern, English-language scholarship, terms like operands, inputs, or variables are more common than operanda, particularly outside discussions of historical terminology. Nevertheless, operanda remains a recognized, specialized term in certain scholarly works and is encountered in analyses of methodological apparatus, linguistic formulation, or philosophical argument where attention is directed to what is being acted upon.

See also: operands, operational definition, operationalization, target variable.