Interoperability vs Compatibility - What's the difference?
interoperability | compatibility |
The capability of a product or system, to interact and function with others reciprocally.
(military) The capacity for a service, piece of equipment etc., to be operated by different forces or groups.
* 2010 , "Entente or bust", The Economist , 14 Oct 2010:
The state of being compatible; in which two or more things are able to exist or perform together in combination without problems or conflict.
(telecommunication) the capability of two or more items or components of equipment or material to exist or function in the same system or environment without mutual interference.
(computing) the ability to execute a given program on different types of computers without modification of the program or the computers. See backward compatibility and forward compatibility.
(computing) the capability that allows the substitution of one subsystem (storage facility), or of one functional unit (e.g. , hardware, software), for the originally designated system or functional unit in a relatively transparent manner, without loss of information and without the introduction of errors.
(structural analysis) the continuity or good fit of material or members or components while being deformed.
As nouns the difference between interoperability and compatibility
is that interoperability is the capability of a product or system, to interact and function with others reciprocally while compatibility is the state of being compatible; in which two or more things are able to exist or perform together in combination without problems or conflict.interoperability
English
(wikipedia interoperability)Alternative forms
* inter-operabilityNoun
- Dr Fox and Mr Morin have ruled out the notion of binational crews, but they are still exploring other ways to enhance the interoperability of France’s Charles de Gaulle and Britain’s planned two new carriers, which seem likely to be spared by the defence review.
