Convention

A convention is a generally accepted standard, rule, custom, or practice. It can refer to formal agreements between countries, groups, or individuals. It also signifies a gathering of people with shared interests or professions, such as a political convention or a science fiction convention. Crucially, conventions arise from repeated behavior or common understanding rather than formal legislation, and they help facilitate social order and efficient communication within specific contexts. They are powerful because deviation from convention is often met with disapproval or inefficiency.

Convention meaning with examples

• It is a social convention to say 'please' and 'thank you' to show respect and gratitude, facilitating smoother interpersonal interactions.
• The Geneva convention outlines international standards for humanitarian treatment in war, aiming to minimize suffering and protect vulnerable populations.
• The annual Comic-Con convention draws thousands of fans eager to celebrate comic books, movies, and related popular culture.
• In programming, a naming convention ensures code readability and maintainability by establishing consistent rules for variable and function names.