sistema

Sistema is a term used in Spanish and Portuguese to denote a set of interacting or interdependent elements forming an integrated whole. The word traces to Latin systema from Greek systēma, meaning organized whole or arrangement. In everyday use, it describes structures ranging from natural to human-made constructs.

In science and engineering, systems are analyzed as units with boundaries, components, inputs and outputs, and rules that govern their behavior. They can be physical, such as a mechanical system, or abstract, such as a mathematical or information system. Biological systems include the circulatory or nervous systems; ecological systems describe networks of organisms and their environment. In technology, systems engineering and control theory study how to design, integrate, and manage complex systems. Open systems exchange energy or information with their surroundings, while closed systems limit such exchange.

The study of systems theory emphasizes properties such as hierarchy, feedback, resonance, and emergence, where higher-level behavior arises from the interactions of parts. Notable approaches include general systems theory, cybernetics, and systems thinking, applied across disciplines to model complexity and improve design and policy.

Usage notes: In Spanish and Portuguese, phrases such as sistema solar (solar system) or sistema de salud (health system) illustrate the broad application. In computing contexts, "sistema" is often part of terms like sistema operativo (operating system) or sistema de gestión (management system), but the generic term stands for the organized whole described here.