sockel

Sockel (German for base, plinth, or socket) is a noun with several related meanings tied to the idea of a foundation that supports something. In everyday use, it denotes the base or lowest part that bears a load or provides a transition to the ground, such as the base of a statue, a column, or a lamp. In architecture and sculpture, the sockel is the lower, often decorative section that separates the work from the surrounding surface and helps stabilize it. The term can also refer to the base of furniture or other objects where structural support or a visual transition is provided.

In electronics and computing, sockel describes a receptacle or connector designed to accept another component. This usage covers electrical outlets and plug sockets as well as connectors used for semiconductor devices. A prominent example is the CPU sockel on a computer motherboard, which provides both mechanical mounting and electrical contacts for a processor. Historically, vacuum tubes and early integrated circuits used various tube or IC sockets. The choice of sockel type determines compatibility between a component and its host device and often implies standards for pin count, spacing, and electrical signaling.

The word is also used metaphorically to denote a foundational element or base of something, such as the sockel of infrastructure or the sockel of a project, referring to what supports or grounds a system, structure, or artwork.