Appending - Definition, Meaning, and Examples in English

Definition

^{Context #1 | Verb}

data structures

Appending refers to the act of adding something to the end of a collection or list. In programming, this commonly applies to extending arrays or lists by adding new elements at their back. The term can also be used in other contexts to indicate the addition of content at the end of a document.

Synonyms

adding, attaching, including.

Examples of usage

She is appending new data to the database.
After appending the files, please save the changes.
You can append items to the shopping cart.

Interesting Facts

Technology

In computer programming, appending data often refers to adding new items to the end of a data structure, like a list or array.
Databases utilize appending when new records are inserted at the end of tables, making data management more efficient.
JSON files can be appended by adding new key-value pairs without disturbing existing data structure.

Literature

Writers often append additional chapters or commentary to books to enhance understanding or provide further insight.
Appendices in academic papers serve as an append to provide supplementary information supporting the main text.
Literary devices can be utilized where a story concludes with an appended section to provoke thought or leave a lasting impression.

Education

In programming classes, students learn to append strings, which helps them understand how to manipulate text data.
Appendices in textbooks allow educators to include additional resources without disrupting the main content flow.
Group projects often benefit from appending everyone's inputs, creating a more comprehensive final product.

Everyday Usage

In daily life, you might append notes to your grocery list or add reminders to your calendar.
Social media platforms allow users to append hashtags to their posts to reach broader audiences.
You can also append a signature to your email for a personal touch at the end of your digital correspondence.

Origin of 'appending'

Main points about word origin

The word 'append' comes from the Latin 'appendere', which means 'to hang on'.
It entered English around the 14th century, reflecting the idea of attaching or joining.
In various older texts, append was used to indicate adding supplementary materials or notes.

The word 'append' originates from the Latin 'appendere', which means 'to hang on, fasten, or attach'. This is derived from the combination of 'ad-', meaning 'to', and 'pendere', meaning 'to hang'. The term was adopted into Middle English in the late 14th century, retaining its core concept of adding something to an existing structure. Over time, the usage of 'append' has expanded significantly, particularly in the fields of computer science and programming, where appending data has become a fundamental operation in managing collections of information.

Word Frequency Rank

This word's position of #31,016 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

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31013 mushrooming
31014 outpaced
31015 inappropriateness
31016 appending
31017 rivalling
31018 pottage
31019 concatenated
...

Appending Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations