Expandable

Expandable is an adjective meaning capable of expansion or increase in size, volume, capacity, or scope. The term is used across fields to describe objects, systems, or functions designed to grow beyond a current limit.

In physical design, expandability appears in items with extending features or compartments. Examples include extendable furniture, expandable luggage with extra room, and hoses or cables that lengthen. In medicine, balloon-expandable stents use a catheter balloon to expand within a blood vessel, widening the passage for improved flow.

In computing and software, expandable often refers to components that can grow to accommodate more data or users. Dynamic or resizable arrays are described as expandable, as are storage systems that can be increased by adding memory or capacity. User interfaces may include expandable panels or accordions that reveal additional content on demand.

In manufacturing and materials, expandable foams or polymers increase in volume after deployment, enabling insulation, sealing, or packaging improvements. Expandable graphite and other expandable materials are used in specialized applications for flame retardancy and thermal management.

The concept is typically contrasted with collapsible, which denotes a reduction in size or the ability to fold away rather than grow. See also expansion, dynamic arrays, expandable packaging.