hotfixed

Hotfixed is a term used in software engineering to describe the action of applying a hotfix to a live production system in order to correct a defect, unblock an outage, or address a security vulnerability. A system or component that has been hotfixed may be described as hotfixed, indicating the fix was applied outside the ordinary release cycle.

A hotfix is usually small, targeted, and designed to be deployed quickly with minimal downtime. Because it bypasses some of the broader quality assurance and documentation that accompany regular releases, hotfixed patches are typically temporary measures and are often followed by a formal patch or maintenance release.

Deployment carries risks such as insufficient validation, regression, and compatibility issues with other components. To mitigate risk, teams implement rollback procedures, monitor for anomalies after deployment, and schedule a follow-up patch in the next maintenance window.

The term is most common in software development and IT operations. It contrasts with standard patches, service packs, and feature releases. In some contexts, hotfix terminology varies; some teams prefer to describe the action as deploying a hotfix rather than calling the patch 'hotfixed'.