A "predecessor" refers to a person or thing that came before another in a specific role, position, or function. For example, in a workplace, the predecessor of a current manager is the person who held that managerial position before them. This term can also apply to products, where an older version is considered the predecessor to a newer model. In technology, a predecessor might refer to an earlier version of software or hardware. For instance, the iPhone 12 is the predecessor to the iPhone 13. Understanding predecessors helps in recognizing the evolution and improvements made over time in various fields.