compatibilitynoun/kəmˌpætəˈbɪlɪti/

• 1

  The state of being compatible; in which two or more things are able to exist or work together in combination without problems or conflict.

  • One huge self-inflicted wound the industry is now suffering from is the lack of coupling compatibility. Up to the 1980s virtually everything had compatible drawgear on a given route, so there was every chance of pushing a failed train out of the way. Since privatisation, compatibility has been lost and in the last few years operators seem to have gone out of their way to avoid compatibility.
  • They will feature wider gangways for better wheelchair accessibility, as well as compatibility with platform screen doors - should these ever be introduced in the future.
• 2

  communicationselectrical-engineeringengineeringthe capability of two or more items or components of equipment or material to exist or function in the same system or environment without mutual interference.

• 3

  computingengineeringmathematicsthe ability to execute a given program on different types of computers without modification of the program or the computers. See backward compatibility and forward compatibility.

• 4

  computingengineeringmathematicsthe capability that allows the substitution of one subsystem (storage facility), or of one functional unit (e.g., hardware, software), for the originally designated system or functional unit in a relatively transparent manner, without loss of information and without the introduction of errors.

• 5

  the continuity or good fit of material or members or components while being deformed.