userconfigurable

Userconfigurable is an adjective describing software, hardware, or services that can be configured by an end user without modifying source code or requiring developer intervention. It encompasses features, parameters, or behaviors that users can customize through interfaces such as preferences dialogs, command-line options, configuration files, or plugins. End-user configurability contrasts with developer-configured defaults or administrator-only settings, and it is a common goal in consumer software, enterprise systems, and devices.

Configuration mechanisms include graphical user interfaces, text-based configuration files (for example JSON, YAML, INI), command-line switches, and extensible architectures like plugins or themes. Settings typically cover appearance, performance, data handling, accessibility, and workflow customization. Good practice emphasizes sensible defaults, input validation, progressive disclosure of options, and clear documentation to prevent misconfiguration. Portability, backup, and restore of user configurations are also important.

From a design perspective, user configurability can increase usability and adoption but may raise complexity and support costs. It requires robust validation, secure handling of sensitive values, and safe defaults to preserve system integrity. In some contexts, security or compliance considerations limit what users may change, or require role-based access control.

The term is commonly written as user-configurable; in code or filenames, the concatenated form userconfigurable may appear. Related terms include end-user customization, personalization, and configurable options.