configuration

Configuration refers to the arrangement of components and their settings that determine how a system behaves. It applies to software applications, operating systems, networks, hardware devices, and cloud environments. A configuration specifies parameters such as feature toggles, resource limits, file paths, and integration endpoints, often separating behavior from code to enable customization without changes to the source.

Configuration management is the discipline of systematically handling configuration items throughout the lifecycle of a system to maintain consistency, traceability, and reproducibility. It involves identifying items, establishing baselines, change control, versioning, and auditing. Changes are documented, approved, implemented, and verified. Tools in this area automate the provisioning and maintenance of configurations; examples include Ansible, Puppet, Chef, SaltStack, and Terraform for infrastructure as code.

Configuration data is frequently stored in configuration files or data stores. Common formats include INI, JSON, YAML, XML, and TOML. Environment variables and registry settings are also used. Centralized repositories and version control enable rollback and auditability, while automation reduces drift between environments such as development, testing, and production.

Key process concepts include baseline configuration, change management, and configuration drift. Reproducible configurations support testing, deployment, and disaster recovery. Security considerations include restricting access to configuration data, protecting integrity, and maintaining backups. In software engineering, decoupling configuration from code enhances portability and maintainability.