# features (attribute)

a property of a thing that makes it distinct

- Computed level: L5 (depth in the emergence graph, not abstraction)
- Status: review  ·  Domain: common  ·  Arena: features

## Emergence
**Emerges from:** [property](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-property.attribute), [distinct](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-distinct.attribute), [make](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-make.verb)

**Through:** the property and distinct are united by the act of making, resulting in a distinguishing characteristic

**Novel properties:**
- distinguishing characteristic
- unique identifier
- identifying mark

## Examples
- The Golden Gate Bridge's orange vermilion paint prevents corrosion in salty air, a feature chosen over 70 years ago. *(engineering)*
- The human appendix is a vestigial feature present in all Homo sapiens, though its function remains debated. *(biology)*
- Python's list comprehensions, introduced in version 2.0, distinguish it from earlier programming languages. *(computing)*

## Used by
- [accessories](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-accessories.fashion) (L8)
- [style](https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-style.fashion) (L6)

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*Canonical: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-features.attribute*  
*Structured data: https://emergencemachine.com/tools/lexicon/what-is-the-meaning-of-features.attribute.json*  
*Every definition provably resolves to space, time, energy and pattern.*