JOLT

Jolt is a noun and verb describing a sudden, sharp movement or shock. As a noun, a jolt can be physical, such as a bump in a vehicle, or an emotional or situational surprise, such as unexpected news. As a verb, to jolt means to cause such a shock or movement, or to awaken or alert someone suddenly.

The term is widely used to convey abrupt change or impact. It appears in phrases like “get a jolt” or “a jolt to the system,” and it is sometimes associated with activities or devices intended to increase alertness or responsiveness.

In commerce and culture, the word has been used as a product name. The best-known example is Jolt Cola, an American soda launched in the 1980s and marketed for unusually high caffeine content. The name has since appeared on various products and media references.

In computing and data processing, JOLT refers to a JSON transformation approach or library for reshaping JSON data to a target structure during integration and ETL workflows. This technical usage is common in data engineering contexts.

Beyond these, jolt is used metaphorically to describe any sudden disruption to systems, policies, or economies. While the exact meaning depends on context, the core idea remains a rapid, jarring change.