plug-and-play architecture
nounA way of building things so you can just plug in a new part and it works right away.
The toy robot uses a plug-and-play architecture, so kids can snap on new arms without any tools.
OTHER MEANINGS
2. A computing system design where devices are recognized and configured automatically when connected.
The operating system's plug-and-play architecture detected the printer as soon as it was plugged in.
3. A business or software approach where new modules can be added without redesigning the whole system.
Their plug-and-play architecture let the company add payment features without rewriting the app.
4. A hardware standard that allows components to be swapped while the system is running.
Thanks to its plug-and-play architecture, the server accepted a new drive without shutting down.