Immutability is spelled with two m's in the middle and three t's in total. This is because the word comes from the Latin word "immutabilis" and was brought into English in the 15th century. The first syllable is pronounced with a short "i" sound, followed by the "m" sound. The second syllable has a short "u" sound, followed by the combination of "tt" which creates a hard "t" sound. The final syllable has a long "i" sound followed by the "ty" sound, which creates the "bility" ending.
Immutability is a concept often associated with objects or entities that cannot undergo any changes once they have been created or established. It refers to the state or quality of being unchangeable, unalterable, or permanent. In various fields such as computer science, philosophy, and mathematics, immutability plays a significant role.
In computer science, immutability is a property of data objects that cannot be modified after creation. Immutable objects are often used to ensure data integrity and safety in programs, as they prevent unintended changes or mutations to the object's state. This can be particularly useful when dealing with concurrency, as immutable objects eliminate the need for locks or synchronization mechanisms.
Philosophically, immutability can refer to the idea of something being independent of time or not subject to change. In this context, immutability can be associated with concepts like eternal truth or unchanging principles.
Mathematically, immutability can pertain to certain properties of sets, functions, or equations that remain unchanged regardless of transformations or operations applied to them.
Overall, immutability implies a sense of permanence, stability, and resistance to change. It often carries connotations of reliability, predictability, and consistency. By embracing immutability, systems and objects can attain a higher level of robustness, security, and reliability in various domains.
Unchangeableness.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
The word "immutability" derives from the Latin term "immutabilis", which is a combination of the prefix "in-" meaning "not" or "un-" and the word "mutabilis", meaning "changeable" or "mutable". The Latin root "mutare" means "to change". Through the combination of these elements, the term "immutability" came to represent the state or quality of not being able to be changed or altered.