redundans

Redundans is the Danish term for redundancy, the presence of extra or duplicate elements beyond what is strictly needed. The word originates from Latin redundare through French redondance and is cognate with terms in many European languages. In general use, redundancy can refer to duplications, repetitions, or alternative means of achieving the same function.

In information theory and communications, redundancy describes extra information or structure that makes data more robust to errors. Redundancy enables error detection and correction and, in data compression, can be reduced by removing nonessential information. In data storage and networks, redundancy is implemented by mirroring or duplicating resources to improve availability.

In engineering and system design, redundancy is a deliberate design choice to avoid single-point failures. Common forms include active redundancy (several components operate simultaneously), standby redundancy, and configurations such as N+1 or 2N. Redundancy improves reliability but adds cost, complexity, and maintenance needs.

In linguistics, redundancy can refer to pleonasm, the use of more words than necessary. In biology, genetic code degeneracy means multiple codons encode the same amino acid, creating molecular redundancy. In employment law, redundancy describes a situation where a job is no longer required, leading to dismissal with compensation or severance depending on jurisdiction.