veränderbar

Veränderbar is a German adjective meaning changeable or modifiable. It describes objects, conditions, or properties that can be altered, adjusted, or updated.

Etymology and grammar: The word is formed from the verb verändern plus the suffix -bar, which indicates capability. The derived noun is Veränderbarkeit (changeability). Related adjectives include veränderlich, which can also mean variable, though veränderbar more directly emphasizes the ability to change.

Usage and contexts: In everyday language, Veränderbar is used to describe things whose state or characteristics can be altered, such as adjustable settings, flexible plans, or changing conditions. In design, engineering, and product development, it denotes features intended to be modifiable, for example veränderbare Parameter or veränderbare Komponenten. In scientific and statistical contexts, it can refer to variables or conditions that may vary under different circumstances.

In computing and information technology: Veränderbar is commonly used to translate the concept of mutable or modifiable data. German technical texts often contrast veränderbare (mutable) data structures or references with unveränderlich (immutable) ones. The term is used for software configurations, user preferences, and API properties that can be written or updated during execution.

Variations and related terms: The noun form Veränderbarkeit denotes the property of being changeable. Opposites include Unveränderbarkeit or unveränderlich, describing something fixed or non-modifiable. The nuance between veränderbar and veränderlich is subtle and may depend on context, with veränderbar focusing on the potential to change and veränderlich on the characteristic of being changeable.

See also: Veränderung, Veränderbarkeit, Unveränderlichkeit.