singleway

Singleway is a term used to describe a principle or design of unidirectionality in various contexts. It is not a strictly defined technical term with a single universal meaning; instead, it functions as a descriptive label for configurations that permit movement, flow, or progress in only one direction.

In transportation, a single-way street prohibits traffic from moving in the opposite direction. The term is common in planning documents and is typically signaled by standard signage indicating one-way flow and accompanying road markings.

In software and information design, “single-way data flow” or “single-direction data flow” is used to describe architectures in which state or information travels in a single direction from a core source to consumers, reducing feedback loops and simplifying reasoning. This concept contrasts with bidirectional models and can align with patterns such as unidirectional data flow, single source of truth, and certain event-driven architectures.

In other contexts, singleway can describe linear, one-pass processes in manufacturing or workflow design, where each stage proceeds in a defined order without looping back. In branding or product naming, Singleway may appear as a company or product name to convey focus or decisiveness; in such uses it is a proper noun and not a technical term.

See also: one-way street; unidirectional data flow; single source of truth.