software portability

noun

UK /ˈsɒftweə ˌpɔːtəˈbɪləti/

US /ˈsɔːftwer ˌpɔːrtəˈbɪləti/

Software portability means a computer program can work on different kinds of computers without big changes.

Because of its software portability, the game runs on both laptops and phones.

SYNONYMS

cross-platform compatibility transferability adaptability reusability

RELATED WORDS

migration compatibility platform independence porting interoperability

OTHER MEANINGS

2. The ease with which a program can be moved from one operating system to another.

The team tested software portability by running the app on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

3. A quality of code that lets developers reuse it across different devices or environments.

Good software portability saved the company months of rewriting code for tablets.

4. The ability of an application to keep working after being moved to new hardware.

Software portability ensured the old payroll system still ran on the new servers.