Extraplanarity

The term extraplanar can be used to describe two distinct concepts in metaphysics:

• Something foreign to the current plane; the antonym of this usage is native.

For example, an outsider native to a different plane than the Universe is an extraplanar outsider with regard to the Universe, while an outsider native to the Universe is a native outsider in that plane. Likewise, when a native of the Universe travels to another plane, that creature is considered an extraplanar creature with regard to the destination plane.

(One exception involves the transitive planes, to which very few creatures are native; creatures that inhabit transitive planes are almost always in transit from one plane to another.)

This usage is most often applied to describe a visitor from another plane ("extraplanar wanderers"), or a location or action outside of the current plane ("extraplanar city", "extraplanar trade").

• For more examples of extraplanar creatures, see Category:Extraplanar environment creatures.

• Something that exists outside of any plane, without regard to physical or metaphysical dimensions. This usage is most often applied to magic that creates unique states or dimensions beyond the reach of any plane, and is sometimes synonymous with (or incorrectly in place of) the terms extradimensional or nondimensional. The term is also used to describe demiplanes not encapsulated in other planes.

For example, a bag of holding stores objects in a tiny extradimensional space. While this space is naturally also extraplanar, the term is less specific and should be avoided in favor of extradimensional. Countless extraplanar realms, such as pocket universes, exist outside of other known planes, and many are ruled by gigas.