Intercepter

Intercepter is a term that can refer to a person or device that intercepts something. In modern English, interceptor is the preferred spelling in most contexts, while intercepter appears as an alternative or archaic variant in some older texts or niche publications.

Etymologically, intercepter derives from the Latin elements inter- meaning between and capere meaning to seize, routed through French and English usage to denote seizing or stopping an object, message, or person in transit.

In military and defense contexts, an interceptor is an aircraft or missile designed to detect, pursue, and neutralize an incoming threat, such as an enemy aircraft or a ballistic missile. Interceptor aircraft have played a central role in air defense architectures since World War II, with various nations fielding dedicated platforms. In missile defense, interceptor missiles operate as the last line of defense by attempting to destroy warheads before they reach their targets.

In computing and information technology, an interceptor refers to a component or mechanism that captures and potentially alters data, calls, or events as they flow through a system. Interceptors are used in programming to add cross-cutting behavior such as logging, authentication, or transaction handling without modifying core business logic. They appear in patterns such as aspect-oriented programming and in frameworks that support request or method interception.

In legal and communications contexts, interception denotes the monitoring or recording of communications. A person or organization that performs interceptions may be described in some texts as an intercepter, though interceptor is the more common spelling in most modern usage. See also interceptor, interception, and intercept.