model

In computing, set of assumptions and criteria based on actual phenomena, used to conduct a computer simulation. Models are used to predict the behaviour of a system such as the movement of a hurricane or the flow of goods from a store. In industry, they are important tools for testing new products: engineers subject virtual prototypes of aircraft or bridges to various scenarios to find out what adjustments are necessary to the design. However, a model is only as good as the assumptions that underlie it.

Models may run at the same speed of the real situation (real-time models) or run at faster or slower speeds.

Models are also the basis for expert systems, which simulate the knowledge of a human expert.