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Input is the term denoting either an entrance or changes which are inserted into a system and which activate/modify a process. It is an abstract concept, used in the modeling, system(s) design and system(s) exploitation. It is usually connected with other terms, e.g., input field, input variable, input parameter, input value, input signal, input device and input file.

[edit] Overview

From the most general systemics perspective, input is subjective and depends on how the system is used. In such sense, the same system can have different inputs in different applications.

In the case of a process description/model, input is closely connected with the concept output. Here, what enters is called input and what exits is called output.

Example: For an abstract system A(x,y,p), where x,y are variables and p is a parameter, x may denote input (variable) and y may denote the output for a process: y = f(p,x), but, for another goal/(system application), the system A can be the carrier of a process x = g(p,y), where y is an input and x is an output.^{[citation needed]}

In recognition that the quality of the input can be crucial to the value of the output, a famous saying teaches us "Garbage IN, Garbage OUT" (GIGO).

[edit] See also

• Output
• Input/output
• Gross Output
• Net output

[edit] References

This article does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2007)

[edit] External links

Look up input in Wiktionary, the free dictionary.

• Definitions of input by the freedictionary.