tilstande

Tilstande (Danish for states or conditions) is a generic term used to describe the condition or status of an object, system, or process at a given moment. It refers to the particular configuration or mode a thing is in, as distinguished from its past or future states.

In Danish usage, tilstande is commonly employed across disciplines to denote a specific configuration defined by observable properties. The term is used alongside related words such as tilstand (singular) and status, and it often implies a definable set of characteristics that can be identified or measured.

Applications

- Computing and information systems: In software design, tilstande form the basis of finite-state machines and workflow models. A program or device can be described as being in a tilstand (for example idle, processing, or error), and transitions move the system from one tilstand to another.

- Physics and engineering: Tilstande describe conditions of matter or operation, such as phase or physical states (temperature, pressure, voltage).

- Medicine and health care: Patienttilstande refer to health status or acuity, guiding triage and treatment decisions.

- Data modeling and business processes: Workflows and lifecycle models assign tilstande to tasks, orders, or resources to reflect their current progression.

Key characteristics

A tilstand is a snapshot defined by a set of properties; transitions between tilstande are governed by rules or events. Some domains treat tilstande as discrete, others as continuous. The concept supports modeling, monitoring, and decision-making by clarifying what the system is currently doing.

See also: State, Finite-state machine, State transition, States of matter, Status.