ALL meanings of portable
port·a·ble
P p - abbreviation Technical meaning of PORTABLE portability 3
- noun Definition of portable in Technology (operating system, programming) The ease with which a piece of software (or file format) can be "ported", i.e. made to run on a new platform and/or compile with a new compiler. The most important factor is the language in which the software is written and the most portable language is almost certainly C (though see Vaxocentrism for counterexamples). This is true in the sense that C compilers are available for most systems and are often the first compiler provided for a new system. This has led several compiler writers to compile other languages to C code in order to benefit from its portability (as well as the quality of compilers available for it). The least portable type of language is obviously assembly code since it is specific to one particular (family of) processor(s). It may be possible to translate mechanically from one assembly code (or even machine code) into another but this is not really portability. At the other end of the scale would come interpreted or semi-compiled languages such as LISP or Java which rely on the availability of a portable interpreter or virtual machine written in a lower level language (often C for the reasons outlined above). The act or result of porting a program is called a "port". E.g. "I've nearly finished the Pentium port of my big bang simulation." Portability is also an attribute of file formats and depends on their adherence to standards (e.g. ISO 8859) or the availability of the relevant "viewing" software for different platforms (e.g. PDF). 1
- adjective portable easily moved 1
- adjective portable able to be carried 1
- adjective portable computing: compatible 1
- adjective portable able to be transferred 1
- noun portable portable device 1
- adjective portable capable of being transported or conveyed: a portable stage. 1
- adjective portable easily carried or conveyed by hand: a portable typewriter. 1
- adjective portable Computers. (of data sets, software, etc.) capable of being used on different computer systems. 1
- adjective portable Obsolete. endurable. 1
- noun portable something that is portable, especially as distinguished from a nonportable counterpart: Of their three television sets, one is a portable. 1
- adjective portable A portable machine or device is designed to be easily carried or moved. 0
- countable noun portable A portable is something such as a television, radio, or computer which can be easily carried or moved. 0
- adjective portable able to be carried or moved easily, esp by hand 0
- adjective portable (of software, files, etc) able to be transferred from one type of computer system to another 0
- adjective portable able to be endured; bearable 0
- noun portable an article designed to be readily carried by hand, such as a television, speakers, etc 0
- adjective portable that can be carried 0
- adjective portable easily carried or moved, esp. by hand 0
- adjective portable that can be used anywhere because operated by self-contained batteries 0
- adjective portable bearable; endurable 0
- noun portable something portable 0