State (condition)

A state is the condition of a person, object, or system at a particular time, described by the properties relevant to a question or purpose.

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Property: A characteristic or attribute used to describe an entity. A state is specified by the properties selected to describe the entity.
State transition: A change from one state to another. Transitions describe how a condition changes over time.
Thermodynamic state: A macroscopic condition of a thermodynamic system specified by variables such as pressure, volume, and temperature. Thermodynamics defines a physical state through measurable bulk properties.
Process: A sequence of actions or changes that produces or accompanies an outcome. A state describes a condition; a process describes change unfolding.
Variable: A quantity or symbol that can take different values within a model or description. Variables encode changing properties used to specify a system’s state.
Equilibrium: A condition in which opposing influences balance, leaving no net change in relevant quantities. Equilibrium is a state distinguished by balance and lack of net change.
Quantum state: A mathematical description of a quantum system that determines probabilities for measurement outcomes. Quantum theory uses state to encode what can be predicted about a system.
Event: An occurrence located in time and space, often marking a change or boundary. An event happens, whereas a state characterizes what holds at a time.
Time: The dimension in which events occur in sequence and durations are measured. A state is indexed to a particular moment or interval.
Steady state: A condition in which relevant properties remain constant over time despite ongoing processes. It is a specific kind of state maintained while activity continues.