What’s redux?

The word “redux” comes from the Latin verb reducere, which means “to bring back”. It is mostly used as an adjective and usually modifies the noun that follows.

As a descriptor, it means that something has been revived, restored, or otherwise redone. It can be used in a number of fields, including music, art, and technology. Redux can mean that something has been reviewed, redone, improved, made more relevant, or given more importance. This is especially true when used in art.

History and use
The term was first used in 1662 in John Dryden’s Astraea Redux, followed by Anthony Tollope’s Phineas Redux in 1873. More recently, the term has entered more mainstream conversational usage following the release of John Dryden’s Rabbit Redux Updike in 1970.

While the word can be used literally to mean an improvement over the original, it also has a secondary sarcastic use, implying that the thing itself has been repeated without any improvement over the original. An example of this usage is a “company policy redux” – in that sense, it conveys a sense of déjà vu, and not in a good way.

It is a term whose meaning must be inferred from the tone of voice and the context in which it is used.
Questionable part of speech
“Redux” is typically used as an adjective modifying a noun. Unlike many other English adjectives, it typically comes after the noun in a sentence. This is similar to other adjectives of its class, such as “remix”.

Folk etymology suggests that it is a combination of “redo” and “remix”, given its similarity in meaning. While this isn’t accurate given the historical record of the word’s etymology, its similarity to the other two words may have helped it hold power in our vernacular.

In more recent usage, the word has been adapted into both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it can typically be used synonymously with “remake” or “redo” (e.g., “last night’s replay”). Its use as a verb is less common and follows the form of other nouns that get “verb,” meaning that it can take standard normal-suffixed verb and participle forms (for example, “reduxed” as a past participle).

Did you know?
Redux is ever-changing as a word and is acceptably used as both an adjective and a noun – it can even describe a verb.
Once a rarely used term, the word “redux” is commonly found in media and popular culture references.
A major change in one’s life can also be called a “redux,” particularly if it brings them back to something from their past.

Redux in popular culture

The word “redux” has become very popular in film and music. Francis Coppola used the term to title his re-release of Apocalypse Now which included materials that were removed from the originally released version, as well as additional edits. Some musicians and music producers will describe what is normally thought of as a remix using the term as well.

Today, many people are familiar with the term due to the popularity of the video game Metro 2033 Redux, as well as the open source state container for JavaScript apps of the same name. Another use of the word in recent times is in Exodus Redux, an add-on for the open source media player software Kodi, which is of dubious legality.
“Redux” continues to grow in popularity as a term to describe a way of bringing something back to life, whether it’s a piece of music, a novel, or even yourself.
Redux in Informatica
Redux is also the name of a predictable state container for JavaScript apps. It is most commonly associated with React.js, but can also be used with any other JavaScript framework or library. Fans of the technology note its predictability, as well as the ease of use demonstrated in other areas such as debugging, testing, server-side rendering, and its overall maintainability.

---

Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN