voiding

Voiding is a term used in several contexts to describe the removal of validity, or the act of emptying contents. In everyday language it also refers to urination in humans and many animals, as well as the cancellation of documents, transactions, or processes.

In medicine, voiding denotes micturition—the process of expelling urine from the bladder through the urethra. It involves coordinated detrusor contraction and sphincter relaxation under neural control. Normal voiding is essential for waste elimination; problems can include urgency, frequency, hesitancy, weak stream, retention, or incontinence, signaling potential infection, obstruction, or neurological issues.

In computing, void is a data type indicating that a function returns no value. A void function performs actions without producing a result for the caller. The concept appears in many languages, such as C and C++, and appears with various syntax in others like Java.

In law, to void a document means to render it invalid with no legal effect from the start. A void contract is unenforceable ab initio; a voidable contract remains valid until annulled. Causes include illegality, incapacity, misrepresentation, or mutual mistake.

In finance and administration, voiding cancels items such as checks or transactions, leaving them without effect. In manufacturing, a void is a hollow cavity within a solid material, which can reduce strength and integrity.