Utility
In economics, utility is a measure of a certain person's satisfaction from a certain state of the world. Over time, the term has been used with at least two meanings.
* In a normative context, utility refers to a goal or objective that we wish ...
is a measure of the happiness or satisfaction gained from a good or service in economics and game theory.
Utility or Utilities may also refer to:
In computers
* Utility, a software program for a limited narrow specific task: see
Utility software
Utility software is a program specifically designed to help manage and tune system or application software. It is used to support the computer infrastructure - in contrast to application software, which is aimed at directly performing tasks that b ...
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Software tool
A programming tool or software development tool is a computer program that is used to software development, develop another computer program, usually by helping the developer manage computer files. For example, a programmer may use a tool called ...
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utility (C++), a header file in the C++ Standard Library
In economics
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Cardinal utility
In economics, a cardinal utility expresses not only which of two outcomes is preferred, but also the intensity of preferences, i.e. ''how much'' better or worse one outcome is compared to another.
In consumer choice theory, economists originally ...
, a utility index that preserves preference orderings
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Marginal utility
Marginal utility, in mainstream economics, describes the change in ''utility'' (pleasure or satisfaction resulting from the consumption) of one unit of a good or service. Marginal utility can be positive, negative, or zero. Negative marginal utilit ...
, the change in the utility from an increase in the consumption of a good or service
In philosophy
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Utilitarianism
In ethical philosophy, utilitarianism is a family of normative ethical theories that prescribe actions that maximize happiness and well-being for the affected individuals. In other words, utilitarian ideas encourage actions that lead to the ...
, philosophical theories that deal with utility
Other uses
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Public utility
A public utility company (usually just utility) is an organization that maintains the infrastructure for a public service (often also providing a service using that infrastructure). Public utilities are subject to forms of public control and ...
, an organization that maintains the infrastructure for a public service, or the services themselves
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''Utilities'' (film), a 1981 movie starring Robert Hays
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Utility (patentability requirement)
In United States patent law, utility is a patentability requirement. As provided by , an invention is "useful" if it provides some identifiable benefit and is capable of use and "useless" otherwise. The majority of inventions are usually not c ...
, one of the requirements for patentability in Canadian and United States patent laws
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Utility (car), a term used in Australia and New Zealand to refer to a pickup truck or coupe utility vehicle ("ute")
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Utility player
In sports, a utility player is one who can play several positions competently. Sports in which the term is often used include association football, basketball, American football, baseball, rugby union, rugby league, softball, ice hockey, and water ...
, a term used in sports for a player who can play several positions competently.
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Utility furniture, produced in the United Kingdom during and just after World War II, under a Government scheme designed to cope with shortages of raw materials and rationing
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Marine Corps Combat Utility Uniform, often abbreviated to "Utilities", the battledress uniform of the United States Marine Corps
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Utility Trailer Manufacturing Company, an American semi-trailer and refrigerated and dry trailer manufacturer, often shortened to Utility
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Utility Manufacturing Company, a defunct clock and camera manufacturer
See also
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{{disambiguation