Home UK English backwards compatibility

Meaning of backwards compatibility in English:

backwards compatibility

(also backward compatibility)

noun

See backwards-compatible

‘The backwards compatibility and mature interoperability make this easy to implement.’
  • ‘We want to continue to provide one generation of backwards compatibility, but at some point you are going to hit the limit of the technology.’
  • ‘The backwards compatibility is another winning feature for this machine.’
  • ‘In addition to DVD-R and DVD-RW, it can write CD-R and CD-RW discs, providing backwards compatibility.’
  • ‘A lack of backwards compatibility also angered thousands of users and many vowed to use competing products.’