What is opaque?

Opaque refers to an object or substance that is not transparent, meaning that it does not allow light to pass through it. Common examples of opaque objects include walls, doors, and furniture. Opaque materials may be solid, translucent, or entirely impermeable to light. Opaque objects can be used for privacy, shading, and to block light. In the context of technology and communication, opaque may refer to a programming technique where the underlying code of a system is unknown or indecipherable to a user, making it difficult to hack or reverse engineer. Opaque can also refer to the quality of language or communication that is difficult to understand or ambiguous in meaning, as well as to the political and social power structures that are obscured or hidden from public scrutiny.