vohab

Vohab is a term encountered in speculative fiction and world-building communities to describe a large-scale habitat that exists either in the physical world, in a simulated environment, or as a hybrid of both. Because there is no canonical definition, usages of vohab vary by author and context.

In fiction, vohab often denotes a structured community or ecosystem designed to sustain inhabitants through advanced technologies, governance, and resource management. The concept is used to explore themes such as autonomy, resilience, and the evolving relationship between humans and technology. Depictions range from fully immersive virtual habitats where avatars live, to enclosed experimental habitats on space settlements or Earth analogs.

Etymology: The word vohab appears to be a portmanteau or back-formation combining elements of 'virtual' or 'voice' with 'habitat'; its exact origin is uncertain and not broadly documented.

Reception and usage: Vohab remains a niche term, primarily used by science fiction writers, game developers, and online world-builders. It is not part of standard technical vocabulary and has no official regulatory or scientific status.

See also: habitat, virtual reality, digital twin, world-building, science fiction terminology.