updatable

Updatable is an adjective describing something that is capable of being updated after its creation. In computing, updatable items can have their content, configuration, or state changed post-deployment or post-initialization. The term is commonly applied to software, data records, and user interfaces to indicate that modification is supported.

In software engineering, updatable systems support updates such as feature improvements, bug fixes, or security patches after release. Updates may be delivered over the internet (over-the-air updates), through package managers, or via patching processes. Updatable components often use mechanisms like delta updates to reduce bandwidth and downtime, and may include versioning and rollback capabilities to manage changes safely.

In data management, an updatable object or record can be modified after creation. Some systems emphasize immutability for auditability, but many environments implement versioning and audit trails so that changes are tracked and previous states remain retrievable. In relational databases, certain views are described as updatable if changes made through the view are propagated to the underlying base tables, typically under specific constraints or with the use of triggers.

Advantages of updatability include responsiveness to user needs, easier maintenance, and the ability to fix issues without full redeployment. Drawbacks can include added complexity, potential consistency risks, and the need for robust change controls and auditing in regulated contexts.

See also: patch management, versioning, mutable versus immutable data, updatable views.