scope

Scope is the range or extent of something. It describes what is included within a particular setting, activity, or field, and what lies outside those bounds. The concept is used across disciplines to define limits and to delimit responsibilities, resources, and potential outcomes.

In project management, scope refers to the work required to deliver a product, service, or result with defined features and functions. A scope statement outlines inclusions and exclusions, deliverables, milestones, and constraints. Managing scope involves preventing scope creep, which occurs when additional requirements are added without corresponding adjustments to time or budget.

In programming, scope denotes the visibility and lifetime of a name, such as a variable or function. Lexical (static) scope defines where bindings are accessible in the source code; dynamic scope follows the current call stack. Common categories include global scope, function (or local) scope, and block scope in languages that support it. Scope rules affect how programs are written and how memory is allocated.

Other uses include optics and measurement: a rifle or telescope scope enlarges and aligns a view; the scope of a study or report indicates the questions addressed and the boundaries of the analysis. In logic and linguistics, scope can describe the range of applicability of operators or quantifiers, affecting interpretation. Overall, scope helps communicate boundaries, responsibilities, and potential effects within a system or inquiry.