Software applications

Definitions related to software applications, including tech terms about software programs for vertical industries and words and phrases about software development, use and management.

robotic surgery (robot-assisted surgery) - Robotic surgery is the use of computer technologies working in conjunction with robot systems to perform medical procedures.
round robin - A round robin is an arrangement of choosing all elements in a group equally in some rational order, usually from the top to the bottom of a list and then starting again at the top of the list and so on.
sales force automation (SFA) - Sales force automation (SFA) software is programming that streamlines the collection, analysis and distribution of data in a sales pipeline.
SAP Business One - SAP Business One is an ERP software platform specifically intended for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs).
SAP BW (Business Warehouse) - SAP Business Warehouse (BW) is a model-driven data warehousing product based on the SAP NetWeaver ABAP platform.
SAP Integration Server - SAP Integration Server is the central component of SAP XI (Exchange Infrastructure), the company's enterprise application integration (EAI) product.
SAP NetWeaver - SAP NetWeaver is a technology platform that allows organizations to integrate data, business processes, elements and more from a variety of sources into unified SAP environments.
screen scraping - Screen scraping is a data collection method used to gather information shown on a display to use for another purpose.
security information management (SIM) - Security information management (SIM) is the practice of collecting, monitoring and analyzing security-related data from computer logs and various other data sources.
SELinux (Security-Enhanced Linux) - SELinux, or Security-Enhanced Linux, is a part of the Linux kernel that acts as a protective agent to the operating system.
seven wastes - The seven wastes are categories of unproductive manufacturing practices identified by Taiichi Ohno, the father of the Toyota Production System (TPS).
SharePoint farm - A SharePoint farm is a collection of servers that work in concert to provide a set of basic SharePoint services to support a single site.
SharePoint Online - Microsoft SharePoint Online is a collection of cloud- and web-based technologies that make it easy for organizations to store, share and manage digital information.
shareware - Shareware is software that is distributed free on a trial basis with the understanding that the user may need or want to pay for it later.
shell program - A shell program is software that provides users with an interface for accessing services in the kernel.
sideloading - Sideloading is the installation of an application on a mobile device without using the device's official application distribution method.
single pane of glass - A single pane of glass is a management console that presents data from multiple sources in a unified display.
skeuomorphism - Skeuomorphism is when something is designed with extra ornamentation to make it resemble another object so it is more familiar.
Slack software - Slack software is a cloud-based messaging application that enables the personnel in an organization to connect and collaborate.
smart home app (home automation app) - A smart home app, sometimes referred to as a home automation app or a smart home automation app, is an application used to remotely control and manage connected non-computing devices in the home, typically from a smartphone or tablet.
Snapchat - Snapchat is a mobile app that allows users to send and receive "self-destructing" photos and videos.
SNOMED CT (Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine -- Clinical Terms) - SNOMED CT (Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine -- Clinical Terms) is a standardized, multilingual vocabulary of clinical terminology that is used by physicians and other health care providers for the electronic exchange of health information.
social network - A social network is a website or app that lets people connect with each other on a common platform.
soft copy - A soft copy (sometimes spelled 'softcopy') is an electronic copy (or e-copy) of some type of data, such as a file viewed on a computer's display or transmitted as an email attachment.
software - Software is a set of instructions, data or programs used to operate computers and execute specific tasks.
software agent - A software agent is a persistent, goal-oriented computer program that reacts to its environment and runs without continuous direct supervision to perform some function for an end user or another program.
software audit - A software audit is an internal or external review of a software program to check its quality, progress or adherence to plans, standards and regulations.
software package - A software package is a group of programs bundled together into a product suite.
spam filter - A spam filter is a program used to detect unsolicited, unwanted and virus-infected emails and prevent those messages from getting to a user's inbox.
speech analytics - Speech analytics is the process of analyzing voice recordings or live customer calls to contact centers with speech recognition software to find useful information and provide quality assurance.
SQL injection (SQLi) - A SQL injection (SQLi) is a technique that attackers use to gain unauthorized access to a web application database by adding a string of malicious code to a database query.
stack overflow - A stack overflow is a type of buffer overflow error that occurs when a computer program tries to use more memory space in the call stack than has been allocated to that stack.
standard business reporting (SBR) - Standard business reporting (SBR) is a group of frameworks adopted by governments to promote standardization in reporting business data.
state management - Application state management is the process of maintaining knowledge of an application's inputs across multiple related data flows that form a complete business transaction -- or a session -- to understand the condition of the app at any given moment.
stateful app - A stateful app is a program that saves client data from the activities of one session for use in the next session.
stateless app - A stateless app is an application program that does not save client data generated in one session for use in the next session with that client.
static analysis (static code analysis) - Static analysis, also called static code analysis, is a method of computer program debugging that is done by examining the code without executing the program.
storage at the edge - Storage at the edge is the collective methods and technologies that capture and retain digital information at the periphery of the network, as close to the originating source as possible.
supplier relationship management (SRM) - Supplier relationship management (SRM) is a systematic approach to evaluating and partnering with vendors that supply goods, materials and services to an organization, determining each supplier's contribution to success, and developing strategies to improve their performance.
supply chain planning (SCP) - Supply chain planning (SCP) is the process of anticipating the demand for products and planning their materials and components, production, marketing, distribution and sale.
systems integrator - A systems integrator is an individual or business that builds computing systems for clients by combining hardware, software, networking and storage products from multiple vendors.
tape backup - Tape backup is the practice of periodically copying data from a primary storage device to a tape cartridge.
team collaboration tools - Team collaboration tools -- also known as team collaboration software -- is a term used to define the different types of software and online services available to companies and individuals that enable them to feasibly work together on common projects, regardless of their physical location.
telehealth (telemedicine) - Telehealth, also referred to as telemedicine or e-medicine, is the remote delivery of healthcare services over the telecommunications infrastructure.
telematics - Telematics is a term that combines the words telecommunications and informatics to describe the use of communications and IT to transmit, store and receive information from devices to remote objects over a network.
Terraform - HashiCorp Terraform is an infrastructure as code (IaC) software tool that allows DevOps teams to automate infrastructure provisioning using reusable, shareable, human-readable configuration files.
test harness - In software development, a test harness is a collection of software and test data used by developers to unit test software models during development.
Testing as a Service (TaaS) - Testing as a service (TaaS) is an outsourcing model in which testing activities associated with some of an organization's business activities are performed by a service provider rather than in-house employees.
Top searches of 2008 - What were people searching the WhatIs.
transformative technology - Transformative technology is hardware- and software-based tools designed to enhance human psychological well-being, cognitive function and physical capabilities.
transparency - Transparency is the quality of being easily seen through, while transparency in a business or governance context refers to being open and honest.
transportation management system (TMS) - A transportation management system (TMS) is specialized software for planning, executing and optimizing the shipment of goods.
UberFLEET - UberFLEET is a smartphone application that allows partners with Uber, a popular rideshare application, to oversee their fleet drivers.
unified communications and collaboration (UCC) - Unified communications and collaboration (UCC) is the collection of technology and software that combines enterprise communication with real-time and asynchronous cooperation capabilities.
US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) - The U.S.
user experience - User experience (UX) design is the process and practice used to design and implement a product that will provide positive and relevant interactions with users.
value chain - A value chain is a concept describing the full chain of a business's activities in creating a product or service -- from initial receipt of materials through its delivery to market.
value-added reseller (VAR) - A value-added reseller (VAR) is a company that resells software, hardware, and other products and services that provide value beyond the original order fulfillment.
value-based healthcare - Value-based healthcare, also known as value-based care, is a payment model that rewards healthcare providers for providing quality care to patients.
vendor neutral archive (VNA) - A vendor neutral archive (VNA) is a technology that stores medical images in a standard format and interface, making them accessible to healthcare professionals regardless of what proprietary system created the images.
virtual appliance - Considered a software equivalent of a hardware device, a virtual appliance (VA) is a preconfigured software solution.
virtual desktop - A virtual desktop is a computer operating system that does not run directly on the endpoint hardware from which a user accesses it.
virtual SAN appliance (VSA) - A virtual SAN appliance (VSA) is a software bundle that allows a storage manager to turn the unused storage capacity in his network's virtual servers into a storage area network (SAN).
VistA EHR - VistA EHR, more formally known as the VistA Computerized Patient Record System, is an open source electronic health record (EHR) system developed by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
VMware - VMware is a virtualization and cloud computing software provider based in Palo Alto, Calif.
VMware ESXi - VMware ESXi, also called VMware ESXi Server, is a bare-metal hypervisor developed by VMware for vSphere.
warehouse management system (WMS) - A warehouse management system (WMS) consists of software and processes that allow organizations to control and administer warehouse operations from the time goods or materials enter a warehouse until they move out.
web analytics - Web analytics is the process of analyzing the behavior of visitors to a website by tracking, reviewing and reporting the data generated by their use of the site and its components, such as its webpages, images and videos.
web content management system (WCMS) - A web content management system (WCMS) is a type of content management system (CMS) that provides an organization with a way to manage digital information on a website through creating and maintaining content without prior knowledge of web programming or markup languages.
web services - Web services are a type of internet software that use standardized messaging protocols and are made available from an application service provider's web server for a client or other web-based programs to use.
WebLogic - Oracle WebLogic Server is a leading e-commerce online transaction processing (OLTP) platform, developed to connect users in distributed computing production environments and to facilitate the integration of mainframe applications with distributed corporate data and applications.
What are COTS, MOTS, GOTS and NOTS? - COTS, MOTS, GOTS and NOTS are abbreviations that describe prepackaged software or -- less commonly -- hardware purchase alternatives.
What are customer service and support? - Customer service is the support organizations offer to customers before, during and after purchasing a product or service.
What are virtual agents and how are they being used? - A virtual agent -- sometimes called an intelligent virtual agent (IVA) -- is a software program or cloud service that uses artificial intelligence (AI) technologies, such as machine learning (ML) and natural language processing (NLP) to provide automated services or guidance to humans.
What is a batch file? - A batch file is a script file that stores commands to be executed in a serial order.
What is a call center? Everything you need to know - A call center is a centralized department of customer service professionals who handle inbound and outbound calls from current and potential customers.
What is a content management system (CMS)? - A content management system (CMS) is a software application that lets users create, edit, collaborate on, publish and store digital content.
What is a decision support system (DSS)? - A decision support system (DSS) is a computer program used to improve a company's decision-making capabilities.
What is a framework? - In general, a framework is a real or conceptual structure intended to serve as a support or guide for the building of something that expands the structure into something useful.
What is a headless content management system (headless CMS)? - A headless content management system (CMS) is an application in which the content and presentation layers are decoupled, allowing for faster content creation, edits and deployments.
What is a private cloud? Definition and examples - Private cloud is a type of cloud computing that delivers advantages similar to public cloud, including scalability and self-service, but through a proprietary architecture.
What is a reactive systems architecture? - A computer systems paradigm that takes advantage of the responsiveness, flexibility and resiliency of reactive programming, so that various components can take continue to function and even thrive if any component is compromised.
What is a recommendation engine? - A recommendation engine is a system that gives customers recommendations based on their behavior patterns and similarities to people who might have shared preferences.
What is a remote desktop and how does it work? - A remote desktop is a program or an operating system feature that allows a user to connect to a computer in another location, see that computer's desktop and interact with it as if it were local.
What is a request for proposal (RFP)? - A request for proposal (RFP) is a document an organization uses when it's searching for a product or service to meet specific requirements.
What is a restricted API? - A restricted API is an application program interface whose access, or use, is intentionally limited by web site developers for security purposes or business reasons.
What is a software license? - A software license is a document that provides legally binding guidelines for the use and distribution of software.
What is a software stack? - A software stack is a collection of independent components that work together to support the execution of an application.
What is a test case? - A test case is a set of actions performed on a system to determine if it satisfies software requirements and functions correctly.
What is a voice user interface (VUI)? - A voice user interface (VUI) is a type of interface that relies on speech recognition technology to enable users to interact with an application or device through voice commands.
What is a web development framework (WDF)? - A web development framework is a set of resources and tools for software developers to build and manage web applications, web services and websites, as well as to develop application programming interfaces (APIs).
What is Agile software development? - Agile is a type of software development methodology that anticipates the need for flexibility and applies a level of pragmatism to the delivery of the finished product.
What is AI? Artificial Intelligence explained - Artificial intelligence is the simulation of human intelligence processes by machines, especially computer systems.
What is an abandoned call? - An abandoned call is a call or other type of contact initiated to a call center or contact center that is ended before any conversation occurs.
What is an API (application programming interface)? - An application programming interface (API) is code that enables two software programs to communicate.
What is an application architecture? - An application architecture is a structural map of how a software application is assembled and how applications interact with each other to meet business or user requirements.
What is an application? - An application, also referred to as an application program or application software, is a computer software package that performs a specific function directly for an end user or, in some cases, for another application.
What is an electronic health record (EHR)? - An electronic health record (EHR) is an individual's official health document that's shared among multiple facilities and agencies.
What is an information system (IS)? - An information system (IS) is an interconnected set of components used to collect, store, process and transmit data and digital information.
What is Apache JMeter? - Apache JMeter is open source software for load testing applications and measuring their performance.