incore

Incore is a term used to describe something located within the core of a system. It is used in various disciplines, where core denotes the central or essential part of a device, reactor, or dataset. As a noun or adjective, incore usually contrasts with out-of-core or external components.

In computing history, in-core memory referred to ferrite-core memory assemblies located inside the computer's main chassis. These were the primary form of random-access memory in early machines before semiconductor RAM became dominant. In modern contexts, the term is sometimes used to describe data that can be loaded entirely in RAM for processing, as opposed to out-of-core processing that streams data from disk or other storage.

In nuclear engineering, in-core describes instrumentation and measurements located inside the reactor core, such as in-core neutron detectors and thermocouples. In-core instrumentation monitors neutron flux, power distribution, and fuel behavior, providing data critical to reactor control, safety, and fuel management. In-core concepts also inform core design and fuel loading strategies.

As a brand or corporate name, Incore appears in various sectors, including technology and energy, with different companies using the name independently. There is no single organization universally associated with the term.

See also: core memory, in-core vs out-of-core, reactor instrumentation, neutron flux.