postavke

Postavke is a term used in several South Slavic languages, meaning settings or configurations. In computing, postavke refer to the collection of options that govern how a program, device, or system behaves and appears. They allow users to customize functionality, appearance, privacy, and performance.

Postavke are typically organized into categories such as general, privacy, notifications, appearance, language, accessibility, and network. They are accessed through a user interface—often a gear icon or a menu labeled Postavke or Podešavanja in localized software—and may include controls like toggles, checkboxes, dropdowns, sliders, and text fields. In addition to on-screen controls, many applications store configurations in configuration files (such as JSON, INI, or XML) or in platform-specific stores (such as the Windows Registry or macOS plist files). Settings may be per-user or per-device and can be synchronized via cloud services.

Settings influence startup behavior, default actions, data collection, and security. Incorrect configuration can degrade usability or pose security risks; changes are often accompanied by warnings or require authentication. Effective settings management helps ensure predictable software behavior, better performance, and greater control over privacy and accessibility.

Etymology and usage: In Bosnian, Croatian, and Serbian translations, postavke commonly denotes the user-facing settings; in some locales, the term Podešavanja or Postavke may be used interchangeably. The concept is widespread across software, mobile devices, and operating systems, reflecting the need for configurable control over digital environments.