launcher

A launcher is a device or software component whose primary function is to initiate the operation of another object. In computing, launchers provide a user interface and management features that start programs, organize them, and perform related tasks such as updates and configuration.

In software, a launcher often serves as the main entry point to applications. Desktop launchers present lists or grids of programs and may include search and shortcuts, while mobile launchers on platforms such as Android and iOS offer home screens and app folders. Game launchers, such as Steam or Epic Games Launcher, consolidate libraries, purchases, downloads, and launching from a single interface.

In hardware and defense, a launcher refers to a device that initiates the release or flight of a projectile, such as a rocket, missile, or torpedo. Launchers can be portable handheld units, vehicle-mounted systems, or shipborne vertical launch systems. They are designed with safety, reliability, and compatibility with ammunition and guidance systems in mind, and their use is regulated and requires training.

Other contexts include spaceflight and research settings where launch mechanisms start experiments or insert materials into a carrier or reactor. Across fields, launchers emphasize control, efficiency, and the seamless handoff from initiating action to the target process or payload.