vordefinierter

Vordefinierter is a German adjective meaning predefined or preconfigured, describing something that has been defined in advance. It is derived from the prefix vor- (before) and the verb definieren (to define). The base participle vordefiniert often functions as the adjective, and its endings change according to grammar. For example, der vordefinierte Wert (nominative masculine with a definite article) versus ein vordefinierter Wert (nominative masculine with an indefinite article). The form vordefinierter appears in inflected positions such as des vordefinierten Wertes (genitive masculine singular).

In usage, vordefinierter is common in technical and formal language to characterize values, fields, configurations, or templates that a system or specification provides in advance rather than leaving them to user choice. Typical phrases include vordefinierte Werte, vordefinierte Felder, and vordefinierte Konfigurationen. This contrasts with benutzerdefiniert or benutzerdefinierte, meaning user-defined.

Grammatical note: German adjectives inflected with definite articles show weak endings, while those with indefinite articles or no article can take different endings. Therefore, vordefinierter can occur in several forms depending on case, gender, and article—for example, ein vordefinierter Wert (nominative masculine singular) or des vordefinierten Wertes (genitive masculine singular). In plural usage, one commonly encounters vordefinierte Werte or vordefinierte Felder.

Related concepts include standardwerte and Standardwerte, as well as the broader distinction between vordefiniert (as a participle) and benutzerdefiniert (user-defined) in documentation and software design.