Purpose, Environment, Boundary, Inputs, and Outputs are a number of important terms related to Systems.

• A System's objective/purpose is the reason for its existence and reference point for measuring its success.
• A System's boundary describes what is inside the system and what is outside.
• A System Environment is everything pertinent to System which is outside of its boundaries.
• A System's Inputs are physical objects and information which cross the boundary to enter it from its environment.
• Outputs of a system are physical objects and information which go from the system into its environment.