executable patching

noun

UK /ˈeksɪkjuːtəbl ˈpætʃɪŋ/

US /ˈeksɪkjuːtəbl ˈpætʃɪŋ/

Fixing a computer program by changing small parts of it.

The team used executable patching to fix the bug without reinstalling the whole game.

SYNONYMS

binary patching code patching program patching software patching

RELATED WORDS

update bug fix hex editor reverse engineering hotfix

OTHER MEANINGS

2. Changing a running program's code in memory while it is executing.

Runtime executable patching let them swap the function without restarting the service.

3. Modifying a compiled file on disk to alter its behavior.

Executable patching of the .exe removed the license check.

4. The practice of applying small corrections to machine code rather than rebuilding from source.

Executable patching is common when the original source code is unavailable.