Editing Holodeck (section)

==Depiction==
In most ''Star Trek'' episodes, the holodeck is a normal room within a starship. A panel outside the entrance offers the user various settings to select a program or adjust the experience.

The inside of the holodeck, when not running a program, is typically shown as an empty room of medium size. The floor and walls are depicted in different ways, either covered in a bright yellow grid on a black background (in ''Star Trek: The Next Generation''), a metallic grid structure (in ''Star Trek: Voyager''), or various other mechanisms.

When the holodeck is activated, the room disappears, replaced by a realistic, interactive simulation of a physical world. The door also disappears until the program ends or the user requests an exit verbally. The holodeck can be controlled by voice commands, or a computer terminal called the "Arch" which can be summoned by verbal command to provide manual controls. Some simulations are preprogrammed, while others are constructed on the fly by the user describing objects to be simulated to the computer.

The simulated environment is not limited to the size of the room, but can be any conceivable size, and participants can move freely, as far as they like. In some cases, the holodeck is shown to create an internal space at least as large as a starship. The opening scene of the 1994 film ''[[Star Trek Generations]]'' features a holodeck simulation of a sailing ship including a surrounding ocean.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMKD9J_Star_TrekGenerations_Holodeck_Enterprise_sailing_brig_Lady_Washington_Grays_Harbor_Historic_Seaport_Authority_Aberdeen_Washington |title=Star Trek:Generations- Holodeck Enterprise sailing brig, "Lady Washington" Grays Harbor Historic Seaport Authority, Aberdeen, Washington - Star Trek on |publisher=Waymarking.com |date= |accessdate=2022-05-03}}</ref>

The environment, objects and people are created from a combination of projected light, force fields, and replicated matter (using the same technique as the food replicators). Holographic projections are solid within the holodeck, and can be interacted with as if they were real, but disappear instantly when the program ends, or degrade rapidly if removed from the holodeck. However, some episodes do show simulated matter persisting beyond the confines of the holodeck, such as in "[[Encounter at Farpoint]]", in which [[Wesley Crusher]] falls into a holographic stream, and remains wet after leaving the holodeck.<ref>[[Phil Farrand]]. ''The Nitpicker's Guide for Next Generation Trekkers'' New York: Dell (1993)</ref>

Living characters within the holodeck can be given varying levels of intelligence, from total lack of animation, to fully interactive, convincing simulations of human beings and other sapient beings, even including self-awareness. Users can observe a scenario passively, with none of the simulated characters recognizing their presence, or can take an active role, playing the part of one of the characters in the narrative.

The metaphysical questions raised by self-aware simulated characters are explored in several ''Star Trek'' episodes, including "[[Elementary, Dear Data]]", in which a holodeck recreation of [[Professor Moriarty]] becomes self-aware and demands a life outside of the holodeck; unable to meet his demands, Captain Picard saves Moriarty's program against the day when that will be possible.<ref>Richards (1997): 114</ref> A story arc spanning the entire series of ''[[Star Trek: Voyager]]'' is the development of a holographic emergency medical program, known as [[The Doctor (Star Trek: Voyager)|The Doctor]], from an intelligent but limited holographic tool into a fully realized sapient being. Originally restricted to sickbay, the character is eventually given a portable holographic projector that allows him to move freely and even leave the ship.

The holodeck is often depicted being used for practical purposes by Starfleet officers in the pursuit of their duties; it is used by the Enterprise's tactical officers to create simulated opponents for combat training, and the holodeck is sometimes used to recreate real events for the purposes of criminal investigation.

It also serves a recreational function; "holonovelists" produce programs with real or fictional scenarios for entertainment, and in several episodes of ''[[Star Trek: The Next Generation]]'', Captain [[Jean-Luc Picard]] takes part in stories in which he plays the role of one of his boyhood heroes, fictional detective [[Dixon Hill (Star Trek)|Dixon Hill]].

Multiple ''Star Trek'' series suggest the use of holodecks for sexual experiences. In ''Star Trek: Deep Space Nine'', patrons of Quark's bar pay for hourly rentals of "holosuites" and pornographic holoprograms. The Holodecks in the animated comedy series ''[[Star Trek: Lower Decks]]'' possess "bodily fluid filters", also insinuating that the holodecks are used for sexual purposes.

Some users develop a pathological obsession with the holodeck, a condition known to the characters as holo-addiction. ''Star Trek: Voyager'' also introduces alien beings known as photonic lifeforms who believe holodeck programs are real, rather than computer-driven simulations.

Although the Holodeck is supposed to be safe, preventing users from being injured even by realistic violence, many ''Star Trek'' shows feature plots in which the holodeck malfunctions and creates genuine dangers, or if the safety protocols have been disabled, which requires the authorization of two senior officers.<ref>Thomas Richards, ''The Meaning of Star Trek''. New York: Doubleday (1997): 108–109. The ''Enterprise''-D "has two mechanisms aboard that seem especially prone to failure{{nbsp}}... the transporter and the holodeck."</ref>

By 2399, when ''[[Star Trek: Picard]]'' begins, holomatrix guest rooms have become a familiar amenity. On board Rios' ship, ''La Sirena'', the hospitality hologram ''(''one of Rios' holographic doppelgängers) escorts Picard to a perfect re-creation of the study in his chateau in France. According to the hologram, who came with the ship's basic installation, [[Star Trek: Picard|Zhaban]] provided the holoscans, thinking Picard might feel more at home. The view outside the window is a projection—Picard says "Hold" to pause the display and the birdsong—but all the objects within have been materialized, including Dahj's necklace.