Science Fair Project Encyclopedia

Patch

A piece of fabric.
a. The name of a UNIX utility (written by Larry Wall) that applies a script generated by the diff program to a set of files, allowing changes from one file to be automatically applied to another file.
b. A set of diffs suitable for input to the patch program. Patches are a common way of supplying small updates to pieces of software where the source code is available.
c. A fix for a software program where the actual binary executable and related files are fixed. See Patch (computing)
A 3d Bézier surface used in computer graphics. A primitive in some 3d software packages.
The name of an IBM utility to edit binary files (typically on mainframe installations, eg MVS).
An electrical cable (patch cord) which can be used to alter the functionality of a piece of electrical equipment, such as a musical synthesizer. This can be extended to virtual "patches" in software or electronics.
A transdermal patch (such as a nicotine patch used to quit smoking, or a contraceptive patch used to prevent pregnancy)
A telephone patch is any connection between a phone line and another communications device, whether it be a radio, a tape recorder, a data device (such as a modem), or even another phone line.
In amateur radio, a phone patch connects transmitters or receivers to the phone line for phone conversations.

03-10-2013 05:06:04
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