Writeable

Writeable is an adjective used to describe data, objects, or resources that can be written to or modified by a program or user. The term is a variant spelling of writable, with writeable being common in some contexts and regions but less prevalent in modern technical writing. In computing, something is writeable when it has the appropriate permission or interface to accept new data or changes.

In file systems, writeable access is controlled by permissions or access control mechanisms. On Unix-like systems, write permission for a user, group, or others is indicated by the write bit; on Windows, write access is governed by access control lists and security descriptors. Applications often distinguish between read-only and writeable resources to enforce security and integrity.

In programming, a writeable buffer or memory region can be modified. A writeable property or field in an object is one whose value can be assigned; some APIs expose read-only views that deliberately hide writeable state.

In data storage, a writeable store accepts new records or updates in place, whereas append-only stores allow additions without modifying existing data. Web servers and applications typically require certain directories to be writeable by the process for operations such as logging or caching, but only when secured and isolated.

Spelling and usage: writeable and writable are used interchangeably in many contexts; preference is often given to writable in formal documentation. When documenting software, specify the expected permission or capability rather than relying on vague terms.