Draft:Introduction

An introduction is an act or process of presenting or making something known for the first time. It is a fundamental concept that occurs in various contexts, including the communication of new ideas, the initial presentation of people—both real and fictional—to others, and the unveiling of new products or designs. The purpose of an introduction is typically to formally establish familiarity, facilitate understanding, and prepare an individual, an audience, or a population for subsequent interaction or engagement with what is being introduced. In certain forms of communication such as text [writing]] and music, the word specifically refers to an initial portion of the work that serves to introduce the reader or listener to the broader themes of the work. Introductions are essential for establishing connections, whether between people, ideas, or objects, with the effectiveness of the introduction often determining the success of subsequent interactions and engagements.

The word, introduction comes from Middle English introduccioun or introduccyon, borrowed from Old French introduction, itself a borrowing from Latin intrōdūctiōnem, accusative of Latin intrōdūctiō, from intrōdūcō, dervied, by surface etymology, from intro- (into) and Latin dūctiō.

Introduction of people

In social and formal settings, introductions help establish respectful interactions and facilitate an initial conversation, and possibly future collaboration.

Introduction of people can serve a variety of purposes, including purely social and potentially romantic, or for networking and business purposes.

Introduction of concepts

In academic contexts, the term "introduction" is frequently used to denote an entry-level overview or initial course of study, with educational programs offering "Introduction to [field/subject]" courses designed to provide foundational knowledge. For example, "Introduction to Philosophy" or "Introduction to Economics" courses are designed to present key concepts, methods, and historical development in a subject area. Key texts designed for such courses, or to provide lay readers with the level of knowledge that would be obtained through an introductory course of study, are often titled accordingly, such as Introduction to Electrodynamics, Introduction to Lattices and Order, and Introduction to Objectivist Epistemology.

In American university course numbering systems, the number 101 is often used for an introductory course at a beginner's level in a department's subject area. This common numbering system was designed to make transfer between colleges easier. It can also indicate a course for students not intending to major in the subject; e.g. a student intending to major in English would take English 111 not English 101.

Within highly specialized academic fields, the term "introductory" can be somewhat misleading. A course that may serve as a starter for students already familiar with foundational concepts can remain well beyond the reach of a lay audience. For instance, an "Introduction to Quantum Mechanics" offered to upper-level physics majors presupposes extensive knowledge of mathematics and classical physics, making it complex and inaccessible to someone whose background lies entirely outside of those areas. An "introduction" course is therefore contextual, introducing a next higher level of ideas relative to an existing knowledge base in the discipline, not necessarily to the public at large.

Introduction of commercial products

At some point in the whole long marketing process, in which a company goes from understanding consumer needs to developing a new product, the time comes to start planning the product's market introduction. In an industrial context, the term 'introduction' is preferable to the term 'launch', the latter being better suited to consumer markets. The word 'launch' seems to imply some kind of event. Conversely, the introduction of a new technical product is a methodical process, one that extends from the heart of the market research program to the final stages of product introduction.