Need help with understanding what context mean

Question

HiI come from Sweden and I really have a hard time understanding what context is, and the different uses of it. I have tried to read several definitions of the word and this is what I came up with:Context is information that is available around a particular situation or event. An example: When you call for a doctor appointment you normally provide information such as name, birthdate, address and so on. This is context/metadata/information that is distinct for your appointment. So the situation is a doctor appointment and the context is the information. When another person calls for an appointment the context is changed, they are not equal, correct?Is it correct that the situation is not the context, but the information around it is? I am a computer programmer and things such as "context-menu" appear quite often. Is it correct to say that the information around the situation decides what is shown? (I know this is beyond the scope of many people, but the context-word is part I have trouble understanding).I would be very happy if someone could thorughly explain what context is, and how the word is used. Also the word "in context", "out of context", in this context etc. Thank you for your time, best regards from Sweden!

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

Context is the situation, condition, atmosphere, or environment within which an action occurs - that is all.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

Let me offer a very simple example for you to consider, in the form of this brief sentence.

He did it there.

Without context, this is hard to interpret. The reader needs to know eg

Who is 'he'?

What is 'it'?

Where is 'there'?

What action did he perform?

Why did he do it?

I come from Sweden and I really have a hard time understanding what context is, and the different uses of it.

I have tried to read several definitions of the word and this is what I came up with:

Context is information that is available around a particular situation or event. An example: When you call for a doctor appointment you normally provide information such as name, birthdate, address and so on. This is context/metadata/information that is distinct for your appointment.

This is all true. The context also includes the situation or event itself,

eg the fact that you are making a phone call

eg the fact that you are calling a doctor's office

So the situation is a doctor appointment and the context is the information. When another person calls for an appointment the context is changed, they are not equal, correct?

Is it correct that the situation is not the context, but the information around it is? No, the situation is part of the context.

I am a computer programmer and things such as "context-menu" appear quite often. Is it correct to say that the information around the situation decides what is shown? (I know this is beyond the scope of many people, but the context-word is part I have trouble understanding). I believe that a context-menu consists of a series of choices that the computer system offers you, based on the specific computer actions you are doing, based on the object you click on, etc.

I would be very happy if someone could thoroughly explain what context is, and how the word is used. Also the word "in context", "out of context", in this context etc.

Consider as an example this sentence. I'd like an appointment, please.

If I am asked what this sentence means and it is given to me in context, eg I am told it is part of a conversation with a doctor's receptionist, I know that it is an appointment with a doctor.

If I am asked what this sentence means and it is given to me with no context, ie out of context, I don't what kind of appointment it is.

Clive

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