Difference between revisions of "Attribute (glossary)"

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<blockquote>''DEFINITION'' (Citation)</blockquote>
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<blockquote>''An inherent property or characteristic of an entity that can be distinguished quantitatively or qualitatively by human or automated means.'' (ISO/IEC/IEEE 2007)</blockquote>
  
If more than one definition, please copy/paste the code for the definition (above) and insert a number in parentheses at the beginning of each definition (i.e. (1), (2), (3), etc.)  ‘’’Make sure to include the source citation at the end of the definition.’’’
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===Sources===
 
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ISO/IEC/IEEE. 2007. ''Systems and software engineering - Measurement process''. Geneva, Switzerland: International Organization for Standardization (ISO)/International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), ISO/IEC/IEEE 15939:2007.
====Source(s)====
 
Please include the source(s) for the definition(s) above.  The sources should be formatted using Chicago Manual of Style (15th ed.).  Please see the [http://www.bkcase.org/fileadmin/bkcase/files/Wiki_Files__for_linking_/BKCASE_Reference_Guidance.pdf BKCASE Reference Guidance] for formatting.
 
 
 
If there is more than one definition, the source for each definition must be provided.  Sources should be listed in alphabetical order by author.
 
  
 
===Discussion===
 
===Discussion===
'''This area is for the ''Glossary Term Owner'' to provide discussion on the context and uses of the term.  This is ''not'' where you should provide comments. ''' Please use the “Discussion” tab (above) to provide feedback if you are not the term owner.
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There are 8 definitions of attribute in the standards covered by the IEEE ''Systems and Software Vocabulary Project'' (sevocab).  The included definition is the second, but best seems to capture the intended use of the term in SEBoKMany uses of the term ''attribute'' are specific to database theory and formal modelingSee www.computer.org/sevocab for more detail.
  
Please note that if there is more than one definition, it is very important to provide information on the context of the different terms and to explain to the user why it is not possible to identify only one definition. For example, is this an emerging concept for which there is still much research to be done?  Or have two different definitions emerged as the result of two different disciplines interacting with systems engineering?
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[http://www.computer.org/sevocab SEVOCAB] contains the following note:
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<blockquote>''[An] attribute can refer either to general characteristics such as reliability, maintainability, and usability or to specific features of a software product. ISO 9000 distinguishes two types of attributes: a permanent characteristic existing inherently in something; and an assigned characteristic of a product, process or system (e.g. the price of a product, the owner of a product). The assigned characteristic is not an inherent quality characteristic of that product, process or system. An attribute expresses some characteristic that is generally common to the instances of a class. The name of the attribute is the name of the role that the value class plays in describing the class, which may simply be the name of the value class (as long as using the value class name does not cause ambiguity).''</blockquote>
  
 
[[Category:Glossary of Terms]]
 
[[Category:Glossary of Terms]]
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<center>'''SEBoK v. 2.9, released 20 November 2023'''</center>

Revision as of 22:40, 18 November 2023

An inherent property or characteristic of an entity that can be distinguished quantitatively or qualitatively by human or automated means. (ISO/IEC/IEEE 2007)

Sources

ISO/IEC/IEEE. 2007. Systems and software engineering - Measurement process. Geneva, Switzerland: International Organization for Standardization (ISO)/International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), ISO/IEC/IEEE 15939:2007.

Discussion

There are 8 definitions of attribute in the standards covered by the IEEE Systems and Software Vocabulary Project (sevocab). The included definition is the second, but best seems to capture the intended use of the term in SEBoK. Many uses of the term attribute are specific to database theory and formal modeling. See www.computer.org/sevocab for more detail.

SEVOCAB contains the following note:

[An] attribute can refer either to general characteristics such as reliability, maintainability, and usability or to specific features of a software product. ISO 9000 distinguishes two types of attributes: a permanent characteristic existing inherently in something; and an assigned characteristic of a product, process or system (e.g. the price of a product, the owner of a product). The assigned characteristic is not an inherent quality characteristic of that product, process or system. An attribute expresses some characteristic that is generally common to the instances of a class. The name of the attribute is the name of the role that the value class plays in describing the class, which may simply be the name of the value class (as long as using the value class name does not cause ambiguity).

SEBoK v. 2.9, released 20 November 2023