usedIn

UsedIn is a term commonly used in software development, data modeling, and documentation to express the relationship in which one item is employed within another context. It often appears as a field or property named usedIn (or the variant UsedIn) that references one or more contexts, systems, components, or configurations where the item is utilized.

In data models and schemas, usedIn helps capture provenance and dependency information. A component, module, or artifact may include a usedIn attribute that lists the systems or processes that rely on it. This can be represented as a list or array of references to other entities, such as system names, identifiers, or object links.

Usage contexts vary by domain. In configuration management databases and bill of materials, usedIn can document where a component is deployed or consumed. In ontologies and metadata catalogs, usedIn supports navigability and impact analysis by exposing how elements participate in larger structures or workflows.

Naming conventions for this concept differ by language and framework. UsedIn may appear as usedIn, used_in, or similar variants depending on naming rules. Clear documentation is important because the phrase can be ambiguous without explicit context about what the item is used in and why it matters.

Related concepts include used by, uses, or consumes, which describe the reciprocal or alternative directions of the same relationship. Careful definition and consistent naming help prevent ambiguity in data models and documentation.