hot patch
English
Alternative forms
- hot-patch (generally for the verb only)
- hotpatch
Noun
hot patch (plural hot patches)
- (computing) A patch (software fix) which is applied to a system while it is running, without the need to reboot the system to complete the patching process.
- The use of hot patches allows the server to be kept fully up-to-date without any reboot-induced downtime.
Verb
hot patch (third-person singular simple present hot patches, present participle hot patching, simple past and past participle hot patched)
- (computing) The process of installing a hot patch.
- Hot patching requires that the operating system be specifically designed or modified to allow running processes - potentially including those forming part of the core of the operating system itself - to be modified on-the-fly without crashing the system.