záloze

Záloha is a Czech noun with several related senses, most commonly a deposit, prepayment, or security payment, and in IT a backup copy. The form záloze is the singular dative or locative case of záloha, while zálohy is the nominative plural. The topic záloze is thus primarily understood in its grammatical role as a case form, but in everyday language it appears in phrases referring to deposits or backups.

In contractual and consumer contexts, záloha denotes money paid upfront to secure a purchase, service, or obligation. It is common when ordering goods on credit, reserving a rental, or entering into a service contract. The záloha is typically credited toward the total price, and the contract may specify conditions under which part or all of the deposit is refundable or non-refundable. A related term is zálohová faktura, an invoice issued to request a prepayment or to confirm a prepayment arrangement.

In information technology and data management, záloha refers to a backup copy of data or a system snapshot used to recover information after loss or damage. Regular zálohy (backups) are a standard component of data protection practices, often implemented as full backups complemented by incremental backups and stored on separate media or in the cloud.

Legally and commercially, záloha serves as a guarantee of performance and may be regulated by contract law and consumer protection rules. Its handling—refunds, deductions for damages, and time limits for returning deposits—depends on the contract terms and applicable jurisdiction.

Etymology traces záloha to the prefix z- with a root related to securing or reserving. See also related concepts such as splátka (installment) and záruka (warranty).