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Gap

Gap Inc. is an American multinational apparel retailer specializing in casual clothing, accessories, and personal care products for men, women, and children. Founded on August 21, 1969, in , , by real estate investor and his wife , the company originated from Fisher's frustration in locating properly fitting Levi's jeans at traditional retailers, leading to the opening of a single store stocked primarily with Levi's products and cassette tapes. The company went public in 1976 and rapidly expanded by introducing private-label apparel, acquiring in 1983 for upscale casual wear, and launching in 1994 as a value-oriented targeting families. By the early , Gap Inc. had become one of the largest U.S. apparel retailers, with peak North American sales for its flagship Gap brand exceeding $7 billion annually around 2003, driven by mall-based store growth and iconic marketing campaigns featuring simple, clean designs like logo tees and khakis. It later diversified with Athleta for activewear in and navigated shifts, though it faced store closures amid declining mall traffic. Gap Inc. has encountered significant challenges, including a prolonged sales slump from the mid-2000s onward—exacerbated by competition from fast-fashion rivals like and , as well as direct-to-consumer brands—resulting in the closure of about 2,000 stores and a roughly $3.5 billion drop in Gap brand annual sales by 2021. Controversies have included a 2022 fallout with over a terminated collaboration, leading to lawsuits alleging , and historical scrutiny over labor practices in overseas factories, prompting initiatives. Despite these, recent strategic refocus on core brands and digital sales has shown signs of stabilization, with the company operating over 3,500 locations globally as of 2025.

Definition and etymology

Core meaning and linguistic usage

The noun "gap" denotes a break, opening, or discontinuity in , manifesting as a physical space between objects or an abstract in a sequence. In physical applications, it describes an empty space or , such as an opening in a barrier like a , , or . Abstractly, it signifies an interruption or void, including s in , time, or , where elements are absent or divergent. English usage of "gap" stems from gap, signifying a chasm or empty space, which entered around the 14th century to convey similar notions of parting or void. This core semantic field has extended to denote disparities or lacks, such as a in public discourse, while retaining emphasis on spatial or sequential interruption over mere absence. Distinctions from synonyms highlight "gap"'s versatility: it differs from "," which specifically implies a temporary pause in , often in temporal or contexts like activities or narratives, whereas "gap" accommodates both transient and enduring breaks without inherent . In contrast, "" emphasizes a rupture or violation, particularly in defensive or relational structures, implying forceful penetration rather than a neutral void. These nuances arise from "gap"'s focus on measurable discontinuity, verifiable through contextual scale and causal implications of separation.

Historical origins

The word "gap" derives from the *ghieh-, signifying "to yawn, gape, or be wide open," which conveyed the concept of an opening or void through the physical act of yawning. This root evolved into Proto-Germanic *gapą, denoting a chasm or empty space, and subsequently entered as gap, meaning an opening, chasm, or outcry, directly linked to the verb gapa ("to gape"). Borrowed into around the late 14th century, the term first appears in records circa 1380, as in the romance Sir Ferumbras, where it referred to physical breaches or openings, such as in walls, hedges, or terrain. Early usages in Middle English corpora consistently described literal gaps, like breaks in forests or mountain passes, reflecting its Scandinavian origins without metaphorical or ideological extensions. By the 17th century, attestations in scientific and exploratory texts began extending the sense to voids or intervals, such as in descriptions of natural fissures, maintaining a focus on empirical observation of spatial discontinuities rather than abstract or politicized interpretations. Historical linguistic evidence from these periods, drawn from primary texts and dictionaries, indicates the term's neutral, descriptive role tied to observable physical phenomena, uninfluenced by modern connotations.

Natural features

Geological and topographical gaps

A geological gap constitutes a low-elevation or in a mountain ridge or range, distinct from broader valleys by its narrow, incised character and often rugged flanks. These features arise primarily through differential , where streams or glaciers exploit variations in rock resistance, structural weaknesses such as faults, or antecedent drainage patterns persisting from pre-uplift landscapes. In settings, initial uplift from plate convergence elevates resistant strata into ridges, followed by fluvial incision that deepens the gap as base level falls or uplift rates temporarily outpace lateral . Empirical evidence from stratigraphic mapping shows gaps frequently align with fault traces or softer lithologies, as quantified in ridge analyses where rates average 0.01-0.1 mm/year under modern conditions, extrapolated backward via dating to rejuvenation phases. Water gaps represent a subtype where active channels maintain the passage, as opposed to abandoned wind gaps formed by or capture. Formation involves superposed , where rivers erode vertically through horizontally bedded or folded rocks post-orogeny, with incision rates documented at 0.05-0.5 mm/year in quartz-rich sandstones via thermochronology. The exemplifies this, carved through sandstones and shales along the pre-Appalachian Rocky Face Fault during fluvial downcutting, with over 1,000 feet of relief excised since uplift, as evidenced by fission-track data revealing accelerated erosion around 20-10 million years ago. Likewise, the resulted from the Delaware 's incision into the erosion-resistant Shawangunk Conglomerate (, ~420 million years old) amid episodic tectonic pulses, with glacial modifications during Pleistocene advances amplifying the 1,000-foot-deep through periglacial wedging and scour. Topographical gaps illuminate causal interactions between and surficial processes, serving as natural dissectors of orogenic belts; for instance, their distribution in the Appalachians traces inherited structures, with seismic profiling confirming fault control on 70% of major passes. Glacially influenced gaps, such as those in the , form via ice quarrying at rates up to 1-10 mm/year during Quaternary maxima, leaving U-shaped cross-profiles and hanging tributaries verifiable through LiDAR-derived morphometrics. These landforms thus record disequilibrium in the erosion-tectonic , where gaps persist as long as incision exceeds ridge crest lowering, typically 10-100 times slower in quartzites versus shales, per budgeting from river sediment loads.

Ecological gaps

Treefall gaps, formed by the natural death and collapse of trees, create canopy openings that increase light availability to the , thereby driving and influencing patterns in both tropical and temperate forests. These disturbances, typically ranging from small single-tree falls to larger multi-tree events, facilitate the recruitment of light-demanding while suppressing shade-tolerant ones in the , as evidenced by long-term observations in old-growth forests. In tropical settings, such gaps have been linked to higher sapling density and compositional turnover, with a of 124 gaps in a 50-hectare plot revealing elevated compared to 200 non-gap sites, underscoring their role in maintaining plot-level tree . Empirical metrics highlight gap size as a causal determinant of regeneration dynamics: small gaps (under 100 m²) often favor dense but less diverse regrowth dominated by pre-existing shade-tolerant seedlings, whereas larger gaps (over 400 m²) promote greater by enabling colonization from banks and dispersal, with light-adapted showing higher rates. For instance, in temperate forests, seedling size and growth increase with proximity to gap centers, though excessive exposure in very large openings can inhibit due to risks. These patterns align with resource heterogeneity theory, where gaps create pulsed resource availability that partitions niches and reduces competitive exclusion among tree . Debates persist regarding the overemphasis on gaps as primary diversity maintainers, with some analyses indicating they contribute modestly to long-term coexistence compared to factors like dispersal limitation or heterogeneity, particularly in stable climax communities. interventions, such as selective , generate artificial gaps that mimic natural treefalls in scale but differ in substrate disturbance and , often accelerating ingress or altering nutrient cycling in ways that deviate from unaltered dynamics—evidence from comparative studies shows reduced regeneration fidelity in anthropogenic versus natural openings. Prioritizing empirical data from intact ecosystems reveals that natural gap frequencies, driven by endogenous factors like and storms, suffice for without anthropogenic exaggeration, though fragmented landscapes amplify unnatural disturbances.

Geographical places

Settlements named Gap

Gap is a commune and the prefecture of the department in southeastern , situated at an elevation of approximately 750 meters in the Southern Alps. The settlement originated as a Roman garrison town known as Vapincum, established after the Roman conquest around 14 BC, with earlier Celto-Ligurian roots. As of 2019, its population was recorded at 40,631, with estimates reaching 42,206 by 2025. Gap, Pennsylvania, is a census-designated place in Salisbury Township, Lancaster County, in the eastern United States, approximately 16 miles east of city. Founded by European settlers in the early , it had a of 1,611 as of the 2000 , growing to around 2,300 by 2023. The name derives from a topographic gap in the local hills. Additional minor settlements named Gap exist in at least nine countries worldwide, often linked to local geographical features such as passes or valleys, though most lack the prominence of the or examples.

Natural landmarks and regions

The Gap in , , , , consists of ocean-facing cliffs rising approximately 20-30 meters above , sculpted from through prolonged wave along the South Head . This formation exemplifies coastal retreat processes in the , where differential exposes underlying Triassic-age sedimentary layers, contributing to tessellated pavement features visible at low tide. Ongoing rates in similar cliffs average 0.1-1 cm per year, influenced by storm surges and sea-level fluctuations, underscoring geological instability despite engineered barriers like fencing. In Torndirrup National Park near , The Gap refers to a narrow sea channel carved into 40-meter-high cliffs by the erosive force of waves, forming a blowhole-like feature where water surges through a fractured fissure. The underlying geology involves granites intruded during the Albany-Fraser around 1.3 billion years ago, with jointing and accelerating post-glacial sea-level rise approximately 10,000 years ago. Empirical observations confirm wave heights exceeding 10 meters during storms, driving measurable cliff undercutting at rates up to several centimeters annually in exposed granitic coasts. Cumberland Gap, straddling the borders of , , and in the United States, is a approximately 1.6 kilometers wide and 300 meters deep, incised through the Mountain ridge of the system by along fault lines over millions of years. Formed primarily during the era through tectonic uplift and subsequent fluvial downcutting by the River's precursors, the gap exposes layered sandstones, shales, and limestones from to Pennsylvanian periods, with features indicating ongoing dissolution. Geodetic surveys document minimal modern due to vegetative stabilization, though historical sediment yields suggest rates of 0.01-0.1 mm per year in undisturbed gaps. Wallula Gap, a National Natural Landmark in Washington state, channels the through a 5-kilometer-wide canyon, remnant of cataclysmic around 15,000-13,000 years ago that scoured Miocene-era flows. The gap's formation involved floodwaters up to 300 meters deep eroding resistant columnar jointed basalts at velocities exceeding 20 meters per second, depositing giant observable today. Post-flood incision by the modern river maintains a stable profile, with contemporary limited to 0.5-2 mm per year based on gauged data.

Organizations and businesses

Retail companies

Gap Inc. is an American multinational clothing retailer founded on August 21, 1969, by and in , , initially as a single store targeting teenagers and college students with Levi's jeans and record albums to address the era's generational divide. The company quickly pivoted to casual apparel, emphasizing accessible, everyday fashion, and went public in 1976 with an initial offering of 1.2 million shares. Expansion included acquiring in 1983 for upscale casual wear and launching in 1994 as a value-oriented brand, alongside later additions like Athleta for activewear, creating a portfolio of distinct labels under a unified . Gap Inc.'s centers on vertically integrated operations, sourcing apparel from 24 countries as of October 2024 to optimize costs and align inventory with fluctuating consumer demand for basics like , t-shirts, and hoodies. This global prioritizes efficiency and demand forecasting to minimize lead times, though it exposes the company to risks from labor dependencies in low-wage regions and geopolitical disruptions. The retailer employs an omni-channel approach, blending physical stores with , where online sales grew significantly post-2020, but physical remains core despite e-commerce's rise capturing only partial demand shifts. Fiscal 2023 net sales reached $14.9 billion, up slightly from prior years but reflecting uneven performance across brands amid broader apparel sector pressures. Post-2020, closed over 350 stores by 2023, including 225 announced in August 2020 and additional Gap and locations, driven by sales declines of up to 43% in early pandemic quarters due to mandatory closures and sustained drops in same-store traffic as consumers favored online alternatives and fast-fashion competitors. These rationalizations incurred pretax costs of $250-300 million but aimed to stem annualized sales losses exceeding $625 million from underperforming sites, underscoring a pivot to viability over expansion in a maturing mall-based model.

Other commercial entities

Gap Technologies, Inc. is a U.S.-based firm specializing in consulting, prototyping, and fabrication of optical data and power transceivers for fiber-to-the-premises applications and harsh environments. The company focuses on applied solutions to enable reliable data transmission over optical fibers, targeting sectors requiring robust communication infrastructure. Its services include custom design and development to address specific optical challenges, emphasizing cost-effective transceivers for extended-range operations. Gap Technology Holding, established in 2007, functions as a private investment holding company managing a portfolio of deep technology firms. The entity invests in ventures that commercialize advanced technologies, bridging innovation gaps between research and market-ready products across various tech domains. Guaranteed Asset Protection (GAP) insurance represents a commercial financial product offered by insurers such as Assurant for vehicles, including commercial trucks, covering the shortfall between an insurance settlement and outstanding loan or lease balance following total loss. For Class 8 trucks, select policies waive up to 10% of the original vehicle price, capped at $15,000, in addition to standard gap coverage, with limits tied to MSRP or NADA values. This product mitigates financial risks in fleet operations, where depreciation outpaces insurance values, though uptake depends on empirical loss data from providers showing reduced lender exposures post-claims.

Science and technology

Mathematics and computing

The GAP system, standing for Groups, Algorithms, Programming, is an open-source software package designed for computational discrete algebra, with primary applications in group theory and related structures such as permutation groups, polycyclic groups, and matrix groups over finite fields. Development originated in the mid-1980s at universities in Aachen, St Andrews, and Bonn, achieving an initial operational version by late 1986, followed by the first public release of GAP 2.4 in December 1988. The system provides tools for algorithmic computations, including group identification, character table construction, and representation theory, enabling verification of abstract algebraic properties through explicit constructions verifiable by machine. GAP's programming language facilitates user-defined algorithms for algebraic manipulations, supporting extensions via packages for specialized tasks like constructive recognition of finite classical groups or computations in algebras. Efficiency improvements in recent releases, such as parallelization for large-scale group enumerations, have been benchmarked against theoretical bounds; for instance, version 4.12 (2023) enhanced performance in backtrack searches by optimizing stabilizer chain computations. As of October 18, 2025, the current stable release is GAP 4.15.1, incorporating bug fixes and expanded package integrations for broader applicability in computational proofs of conjectures, such as those involving finite simple groups. In number theory, gaps refer to differences between consecutive terms in sequences, most prominently prime gaps, defined as g_n = p_{n+1} - p_n, where p_n is the n-th prime. The Hardy-Littlewood conjectures, formulated in the 1920s, provide asymptotic predictions for the distribution of small gaps; the first conjecture estimates the count of prime k-tuples (corresponding to fixed gap patterns) up to x as approximately \mathfrak{S}(k) \int_2^x \frac{(\log t)^{k-1}}{(k-1)! \log^k t} dt, where \mathfrak{S}(k) is the singular series accounting for local densities modulo primes. Empirical verification up to x \approx 10^{18} aligns with these densities for twin primes (gap 2) and cousin primes (gap 4), though unbounded gaps are proven via sieve methods, with the largest known gap of 1476 occurring after the prime 1425172824437699411 as of 2014 computations extended in later verifications. Computational algorithms for detecting and bounding gaps leverage probabilistic models akin to Cramér's, simulating prime distributions to test conjectures; for example, Gallagher's reformulation links Hardy-Littlewood k-tuple predictions to Poisson-distributed gap statistics, empirically matching observed small-gap frequencies up to primes near $10^{12}. In broader sequences, gaps quantify irregularities, such as in square-free integers where consecutive non-square-free runs yield gaps bounded by moduli like 172 for 11-term examples, computable via inclusion-exclusion over prime powers. These concepts underpin verifiable bounds in , with software like GAP extended via packages for related computations in arithmetic progressions.

Linguistics

In linguistics, phonological gaps denote systematic absences of specific sounds or phonemes within a language's , often attributable to articulatory, perceptual, or historical constraints rather than arbitrary omissions. For instance, the voiceless interdental /θ/ (as in English "think") is absent in approximately 85% of the world's languages, primarily because its demands precise positioning of the between the teeth, which imposes higher articulatory demands compared to more common alveolar or labial sounds. These gaps are not random; cross-linguistic surveys of over 300 languages reveal that inventories cluster around universal tendencies, such as favoring stops over in early positions, driven by ease of and acquisition in children. Empirical analyses using models further demonstrate that such gaps arise from ranked constraints balancing faithfulness to underlying forms against markedness penalties for complex articulations, explaining why languages like or lack /θ/ while retaining simpler . A prominent example of lexical gaps in language acquisition is the "word gap" observed between children from varying socioeconomic statuses (SES), initially quantified in a 1995 study by Betty Hart and Todd Risley involving hourly recordings from 42 families over 2.5 years. They reported that by age 3, children in professional households encountered about 45 million words, compared to 30 million in working-class homes and 25 million in welfare-dependent families, extrapolating a cumulative 30-million-word disparity for the lowest SES group. However, methodological critiques highlight limitations, including small sample size, potential biases from non-representative hourly snapshots (e.g., excluding background speech or overemphasizing visitor-influenced interactions), and assumptions in extrapolating daily exposure without longitudinal validation. Subsequent replications using automated tools like (Language Environment Analysis) on larger samples (e.g., 329 families) have yielded mixed results, finding SES-linked differences in child-directed speech but smaller gaps—around 4 million words by age 3—when distinguishing interactive talk from total exposure, and emphasizing quality (e.g., diverse ) over raw count. Longitudinal empirical data from cohorts like the Longitudinal Study confirm persistent SES disparities in size at school entry (e.g., lower-SES children averaging 20-30% fewer words), with trajectories showing slower gains uncorrelated directly with word exposure alone but influenced by interactive input and home practices. These findings underscore correlations between early input and later outcomes, yet causal claims linking gaps to innate deficits or irreversible trajectories lack rigorous controls for genetic confounders or bidirectional effects, where child responsiveness shapes parental talk.

Physical and biological sciences

In , the denotes the energy range in a crystalline material where no allowed states occur, separating the valence band (filled with electrons at ) from the conduction band (empty). This forbidden zone, typically on the order of 0.1 to 4 in semiconductors, governs electronic, optical, and thermal properties; materials with band gaps exceeding 3-4 behave as insulators, while those below act as semiconductors under thermal or optical excitation. For elemental , a cornerstone of modern , the indirect band gap measures 1.12 at 300 K, enabling controlled conductivity via doping and verified empirically through methods like photoluminescence spectroscopy and temperature-dependent resistivity measurements. In , gap junctions form intercellular channels permitting selective of ions (e.g., Ca²⁺, K⁺), second messengers (e.g., , IP₃), and metabolites (up to ~1 kDa) between adjacent cells, facilitating synchronized electrical and metabolic activity in tissues like and neural networks. These structures arise from docking of hexameric hemichannels, each comprising six transmembrane subunits arranged in a ~50 -long with a diameter of 0.7-1.5 nm depending on gating state. High-resolution cryo-electron has elucidated atomic details, such as the human Cx43 (GJA1) in nanodiscs, revealing a four-helix bundle per subunit and conformational shifts between closed (constricted ) and open states driven by voltage, , or Ca²⁺ binding. Similar structures for neuronal Cx36/GJD2 show resolutions of 2.2-3.6 , confirming dynamic equilibria essential for rapid signal propagation. In , the Antarctic ozone hole—a profound seasonal depletion exceeding 60% in stratospheric concentrations—emerged in the late to early over the , driven by heterogeneous reactions on polar stratospheric clouds that activate from anthropogenic chlorofluorocarbons (s), catalyzing O₃ destruction via cycles like Cl + O₃ → ClO + O₂. Ground-based and satellite observations, such as from NASA's Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer, documented minima dropping to below 100 Dobson units (DU) by 1985, compared to global averages of ~300 DU. The 1987 and its amendments mandated phased elimination of ozone-depleting substances, slashing global CFC emissions by over 98% since peak levels; 2022 assessments indicate recovery progress, with October minima stabilizing around 200-250 DU and projections for full restoration to 1980 levels by 2066, though vulnerabilities persist from illegal emissions and climate interactions.

Social and economic concepts

Disparities and inequalities

In economic contexts, the wage gap measures the difference in median earnings between men and women, with unadjusted U.S. data from the showing full-time female workers earning 83.6% of male median weekly earnings in 2023, equivalent to a 16.4% gap. This raw disparity arises partly from , where women concentrate in lower-paying fields like and healthcare, and men in higher-paying sectors such as and ; women also tend to work fewer hours annually due to part-time preferences or family-related interruptions. Adjusting for these factors—occupation, hours worked, experience, and education—reduces the gap substantially, with studies attributing up to 80% of the remaining variance to differences in career continuity and choices influenced by maternity and household roles. For instance, women are 1.5 times less likely than men starting in the same to advance to top-paying roles, often due to prioritizing flexibility over high-demand positions requiring or relocation. Empirical models controlling for verifiable proxies like tenure and frequently yield adjusted gaps of 3-7%, with residual differences potentially reflecting unmeasured preferences rather than uniform , though academic sources emphasizing the latter often underweight choice-based explanations amid institutional biases favoring environmental narratives. Educational achievement gaps appear in metrics like NAEP scores, where 2022 grade 8 mathematics averages revealed persistent racial disparities—e.g., White students scoring around 271-282 points versus Black students at 248-260—correlating strongly with but not fully explained by school funding alone. Regression analyses link much of the variance to family structure, with students from intact two-biological-parent households outperforming single-parent peers by 0.2-0.5 standard deviations in reading and math, attributable to greater parental involvement, stability, and rather than income per se. Longitudinal twin and studies underscore causal realism by showing of cognitive and achievement traits rising from 40% in to 60-80% by , as shared environments fade and genetic potentials amplify through gene-environment interactions, debunking overreliance on modifiable inputs like programs that yield fading effects. These findings, drawn from large-scale genomic and behavioral datasets, indicate that while SES influences access to enriching environments, innate factors and family-mediated transmission sustain gaps, with interventions succeeding most when targeting stable home dynamics over broad systemic reforms.

Cultural and generational divides

The term "generation gap" emerged in the 1960s to describe profound differences in values, attitudes, and behaviors between younger and older cohorts, particularly amid post-World War II cultural upheavals in the United States and Europe. Coined notably by magazine editor John Poppy in Look magazine, it captured the rebellion of baby boomers—born 1946–1964—against parental norms shaped by wartime austerity and conformity, manifesting in youth movements rejecting traditional authority, family structures, and social conventions during events like the Vietnam War protests and sexual revolution. Historical analysis reveals such divides are not novel but recur across eras, as evidenced by 19th-century observations of youth-parent clashes by Alexis de Tocqueville, underscoring cyclical rather than linear progress in societal norms. Survey data from consistently document persistent value divergences, such as younger generations exhibiting lower religiosity— with only 46% of identifying as Christian compared to 73% of the —and greater support for issues like (72% among those under 30 versus 45% among those over 65 as of 2015). These gaps extend to political trust and social priorities, with prioritizing (34% as a top issue) over economic concerns more than (18%), reflecting formative experiences like economic recessions and digital connectivity rather than uniform ideological shifts. Such empirical patterns challenge narratives of inevitable convergence, as age-period-cohort analyses show generational effects endure when controlling for life stage, with younger cohorts retaining distinct views on and institutional into adulthood. The "" denotes a parallel cultural divide in public trust toward authorities, originating in the amid reporting discrepancies, where official optimism from the administration clashed with battlefield realities revealed by media like the coverage in 1968, eroding faith in government narratives. Defined as skepticism arising from verifiable mismatches between claims and outcomes—such as inflated enemy body counts versus escalating U.S. casualties—this gap quantified political distrust, with Gallup polls showing approval for Johnson's handling of dropping from 70% in 1965 to 35% by 1968. It persists in modern metrics, like Edelman Trust Barometer data indicating only 40% global trust in government information as of 2023, often tied to perceived detachment from verifiable public costs in decisions. From an evolutionary standpoint, intergenerational tensions arise from inherent parent-offspring conflicts over , where parents optimize for multiple children's long-term while prioritize immediate personal gains, fostering normative clashes independent of cultural overlays. This biological realism, rooted in theory, explains recurring divides—such as adolescents seeking to signal mate viability—countering views of harmony as default; empirical studies confirm higher conflict intensity during reproductive transitions, with resolution varying by genetic relatedness rather than socialization alone. Thus, cultural gaps reflect amplified expressions of these adaptive mismatches, evident historically without implying progressive resolution.

Other uses

In arts, media, and culture

The , an American R&B and band formed in 1967 in , by brothers Charlie, Ronnie, and Robert Wilson, gained prominence in the late and with synth-funk hits emphasizing danceable grooves and romantic themes. Their self-titled 1979 album, produced by , featured the track "Shake", which showcased their energetic style blending horns and basslines, marking their shift from regional acts to national recognition under . Subsequent releases like Gap Band III (1980) included "Burn Rubber", peaking at No. 5 on the R&B chart, reflecting the band's commercial peak with over 10 million records sold worldwide by the mid-1980s. In , "The Gap" is a by the band from their 1984 album , which critiqued emotional and societal voids through minimalist synth arrangements and Tom Bailey's vocals, achieving moderate airplay in the UK where the album reached No. 7 on the charts. The song's production, handled by Alex Sadkin, highlighted the band's transition from quirky pop to more introspective , with lyrics evoking isolation amid urban disconnection. In film, (2018), a documentary directed by Bing Liu, chronicles three skateboarders in , using as a for bridging personal voids stemming from absent fathers and domestic trauma, compiled from over 12 years of footage including Liu's own adolescence. The film premiered at Sundance in 2018, earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary Feature and praise for its raw exploration of masculinity and escape, with a 98% approval rating on from 104 reviews.

Miscellaneous applications

The phrase "" functions as an audible safety warning on rail platforms, cautioning passengers against the horizontal and vertical space between the train and platform edge, which poses fall risks especially on curved or elevated sections. On the London Underground, recorded announcements of the phrase debuted in 1969 at stations like , voiced by an actor under sound engineer Peter Lodge, though staff had verbally used similar alerts since at least 1957 following fatal incidents. In , a gap specifies the controlled clearance between parts to facilitate , movement, or without , as defined in tolerance systems like ISO 286, which establishes grades for shaft-hole fits ranging from (negative gap) to clearance (positive gap up to several millimeters depending on size and class). In policies, gaps denote voids or shortfalls in coverage, such as exclusions for specific perils, lapses between policy periods, or discrepancies between insured value and actual loss, which actuarial assessments quantify to evaluate exposure; for example, in claims-made liability policies, a break in continuous coverage can void protection for prior acts unless retroactively addressed, heightening claim denial risks.