Boosters

A booster is an apparatus or action that increases or enhances a system's output, performance, or effect. The term is used across fields to denote something that provides additional force, capacity, or influence beyond a baseline.

In aerospace, rocket boosters are stages that deliver extra thrust during liftoff and may be jettisoned after their fuel is expended. In automotive contexts, booster cables (jumper cables) transfer power from a functioning battery to a depleted one to start a vehicle. In child safety, a booster seat raises a child so the vehicle’s seat belt fits correctly and safely. In medicine, booster shots are additional vaccine doses used to re-stimulate immunity after the initial series. In electronics and communications, boosters include boost converters, amplifiers, and signal boosters that raise voltage, current, or signal strength, or extend reception. In plumbing, booster pumps increase water pressure and flow.

In social and educational contexts, booster clubs raise funds for schools or athletic programs. Safety, reliability, and regulatory requirements apply to booster devices, with specifics depending on the domain—such as aviation standards for rocket hardware, automotive standards for seating, or regulatory approvals for vaccines.

The term derives from boost, meaning to lift or raise, and is applied metaphorically across disciplines to denote amplification or support.