Prototyping
An early sample, model, or release of a product built to test a concept or process or to act as a thing to be replicated or learned from.
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Origin
From the Greek prōtotupon (protos "first" + typos "impression, mold"), entering English via the 1590s French prototype. Originally a theological term for an archetypal form, it gradually expanded to mean any preliminary model or trial version. The practice became central to modern engineering and design in the 1980s with the advent of rapid prototyping technologies like 3D printing and iterative software development methods.
Updated February 22, 2026