# state

> abstract term that denotes the presence of stable values of a set of variables of an object

**Wikidata**: [Q3505845](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3505845)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/state

## Summary
A state is an abstract concept representing the condition of an object defined by the stable values of a set of its variables. It is a type of property or phenomenon that describes an object at a given time. The state is caused by processes or occurrences and, in turn, can cause effects or further processes.

## Key Facts
- A state is an abstract term that denotes the presence of stable values of a set of variables of an object.
- It is an instance of the concepts "concept" and "type of property".
- It is a subclass of the entities "phenomenon" and "property".
- A state is a facet of an "object".
- The cause of a state can be a "cause", "process", or "occurrence".
- The effect of a state can be an "effect", "process", or "occurrence".
- It is said to be the same as a "condition".
- It is different from "physical state" and other entities also named "state".
- Its Wikidata description is: "abstract term that denotes the presence of stable values of a set of variables of an object".
- It has aliases in multiple languages, including "current state", "estado actual", "état actuel", "狀態", and "현재 상태".
- It has sitelinks on Wikipedia in 5 languages: Bulgarian (bg), Chuvash (cv), Estonian (et), Japanese (ja), and Russian (ru).
- Its Google Knowledge Graph ID is `/g/12143_8d`.
- Its Arabic Ontology Concept ID is `293226`.
- It has an Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID with the topic `topic/state-philosophy` and a name qualifier of "state".

## FAQs
**What is a state in simple terms?**
A state is a stable condition of an object, defined by the specific values of its characteristics or variables at a moment in time.

**What causes a state to change or occur?**
A state is caused by a preceding event, which can be a specific cause, a process, or an occurrence. This cause leads to the establishment of the stable variable values that define the state.

**How is a state different from a physical state?**
While the term "state" is a broad abstract concept, it is explicitly differentiated from a "physical state," which likely refers to a more specific condition in a scientific context, such as the state of matter.

## Why It Matters
The concept of a state is fundamental to understanding and modeling systems across numerous fields, including computer science, philosophy, engineering, and physics. It provides a framework for describing an object's condition at any point, which is essential for analyzing behavior, predicting outcomes, and managing changes. By defining a state through a set of stable variables, it becomes possible to track transitions, identify causes and effects, and build coherent models of dynamic systems, from simple mechanical devices to complex software applications.

## Notable For
- Being a foundational abstract concept used to model systems.
- Having a precise definition centered on the stability of an object's variables.
- Being clearly distinguished from other, more specific concepts that share the same name.

## Body

### Conceptual Definition
A state is fundamentally an abstract concept. It serves to describe the condition of an object by capturing the stable values of a set of variables associated with that object. This makes it a specific type of property that an object can possess.

### Classification and Relationships
The entity "state" is classified as an instance of both "concept" and "type of property". It is further defined as a subclass of the broader categories "phenomenon" and "property". The state is always a facet of an "object", meaning it describes a particular aspect of that object's existence.

### Causes and Effects
The model defines clear causal relationships for a state. A state is caused by entities such as a "cause", a "process", or an "occurrence". Conversely, a state itself can be the cause of an "effect", a "process", or a subsequent "occurrence", establishing it as a central node in a chain of events.

### Equivalence and Distinctions
The knowledge base indicates that "state" is said to be the same as "condition", treating these two terms as synonyms within this context. However, it is explicitly differentiated from several other entities, including "physical state" and other distinct entities that are also named "state", preventing conceptual ambiguity.

### External Identifiers and Presence
The concept is recognized across multiple knowledge systems.
- Its **Google Knowledge Graph ID** is `/g/12143_8d`.
- Its **Arabic Ontology Concept ID** is `293226`.
- It has an **Encyclopædia Britannica Online ID** for the topic "state-philosophy" with the name "state".

The entity has Wikipedia pages (sitelinks) in five languages: Bulgarian (bg), Chuvash (cv), Estonian (et), Japanese (ja), and Russian (ru). It is also known by aliases in several languages, including "current state" in English, "estado actual" in Spanish, "état actuel" in French, "狀態" in Chinese, and "현재 상태" in Korean.