A patch (sometimes called a "fix") is a quick-repair job for a piece of programming.
During a software product's beta
test distribution or try-out period and later after the product is formally released, problems
(called bug)
will almost invariably be found. A patch is the immediate solution that is provided to users; it
can sometimes be downloaded from the software maker's Web site. The patch is not necessarily the
best solution for the problem and the product developers often find a better solution to provide
when they package the product for its next release.
A patch is usually developed and distributed as a replacement for or an insertion in compiled
code (that is, in a binary file or object module). In larger operating systems, a special
program is provided to manage and keep track of the installation of patches.
Contributor(s): Chris Bethea
This was last updated in January 1998
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