visitor

A visitor is a person who visits another place for a purpose such as social interaction, business, or tourism, typically for a limited period. They are distinct from residents or occupants of a dwelling or facility. The term is used in many contexts, including hospitality, institutions, and travel.

The word derives from the Latin visitare, through Old French and Middle English; it shares a root with visit and visiting. The verb form to visit means to go to see someone or something.

In everyday life, visitors include friends and relatives visiting a home, guests at events, or patrons entering facilities such as museums, libraries, or hospitals. Institutions often regulate visits with visiting hours, restrictions for safety or privacy, and sometimes require identification or visitor passes.

In travel and immigration, some countries offer a visitor visa or temporary admission for tourism, business, or family visits. Visitor status generally permits a stay for a limited duration and does not confer permanent residency. Compliance with visa conditions, such as length of stay and restrictions on work, is enforced by border authorities.

In computing and digital media, a visitor denotes a person who visits a website or app, as tracked by analytics. Distinctions are sometimes made between visitors and registered users, and data collection raises privacy considerations.

In culture, the term appears in various works and titles, including films, novels, and songs, reflecting themes of arrival, encounter, and motion.