pointof

Pointof is a term that does not have a single, formal definition in established standards. In practice, it is used as a coined name in various projects to denote a reference point, origin, or source within a system. Because of its generic construction, the exact meaning of pointof is determined by context and implementation.

In software development, pointof is occasionally used as a function or mapper name that retrieves the origin of a value or traces a transformation back to its source. For example, a pointof(value) function might return the initial input before a series of processing steps, or identify the root node in a data structure or graph. In data governance and provenance work, a pointof marker or field can indicate the lineage of a datum, helping to track its origin and transformations over time.

In geometry, computer graphics, and geospatial projects, pointof is sometimes employed to denote a reference point or origin used to anchor calculations, coordinate transforms, or projections. Its exact role—whether as a computational primitive, a metadata label, or an annotation—varies by platform and discipline.

Etymology and usage notes: The term arises from combining "point" with "of" to form phrases about origin or reference. There is no widely adopted standard for pointof, and it should be treated as a project-specific identifier. When used, clear documentation is recommended to avoid ambiguity. See also origin, reference point, provenance, datum, point of interest.