Microsoft KB Archive/824684

= Description of the standard terminology that is used to describe Microsoft software updates =

Article ID: 824684

Article Last Modified on 2/6/2007

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APPLIES TO


 * Customer Service and Support Information

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SUMMARY
This article describes the standard terminology that Microsoft is adopting to describe software updates. This terminology is also included in the Microsoft Security and Privacy Glossary. To view the Microsoft Security and Privacy Glossary, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/security/glossary.mspx



MORE INFORMATION
Microsoft is adopting the following standard terminology to describe software updates:  Connector

Definition: A connector is a software component that is designed to support connections between software. Critical Update

Definition: A critical update is a broadly released fix for a specific problem that addresses a critical, non-security-related bug.

Additional Information: Critical updates are available for customers to download and are accompanied by a Microsoft Knowledge Base article. Development Kit

Definition: A development kit is software that is designed to help developers to write new programs. Development kits typically include a visual builder, an editor, and a compiler. Driver

Definition: A driver is a software component that is designed to support new hardware. Feature Pack

Definition: A feature pack is new product functionality that is first distributed outside the context of a product release and that is typically included in the next full product release. Guidance

Definition: Guidance includes scripts, sample code, and technical documentation that is designed to help deploy and use a product or a technology. Hotfix

Definition: A hotfix is a single, cumulative package that includes one or more files that are used to address a problem in a product and are cumulative at the binary and file level. A hotfix addresses a specific customer situation and may not be distributed outside the customer's organization.

Additional Information: Hotfixes are distributed by Microsoft Product Support Services. Customers may not redistribute hotfixes without written, legal consent from Microsoft.</li> Security Update

Definition: A security update is a broadly released fix for a product-specific, security-related vulnerability. Security vulnerabilities are rated based on their severity. The severity rating is indicated in the Microsoft security bulletin as critical, important, moderate, or low.

Additional Information: Microsoft security updates are available for customers to download and are accompanied by two documents: a security bulletin and a Microsoft Knowledge Base article. For more information about the format of Microsoft Knowledge Base articles for Microsoft security updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

824689 Description of the format of Microsoft Knowledge Base articles for Microsoft security updates

</li> Service Pack

Definition: A service pack is a tested, cumulative set of all hotfixes, security updates, critical updates, and updates. Service packs may also contain additional fixes for problems that are found internally since the release of the product and a limited number of customer-requested design changes or features.

Additional Information: Microsoft service packs are available for download and are accompanied by Microsoft Knowledge Base articles.</li> Software Update

Definition: A software update is any update, update rollup, service pack, feature pack, critical update, security update, or hotfix that is used to improve or to fix a software product that is released by Microsoft Corporation.

Additional Information: A Microsoft software update is accompanied by a Microsoft Knowledge Base article.</li> Tool

Definition: A tool is a utility or a feature that helps to complete a task or a set of tasks.</li> Update

Definition: An update is a broadly released fix for a specific problem. An update addresses a non-critical, non-security-related bug.

Additional Information: Microsoft updates are available for customers to download and are accompanied by a Microsoft Knowledge Base article.</li> Update Rollup

Definition: An update rollup is a tested, cumulative set of hotfixes, security updates, critical updates, and updates that are packaged together for easy deployment. A rollup generally targets a specific area, such as security, or a component of a product, such as Internet Information Services (IIS).

Additional Information: Microsoft update rollups are available for customers to download and are accompanied by a Microsoft Knowledge Base article.</li> Upgrade

Definition: An upgrade is a software package that replaces an installed version of a product with a newer version of the same product. The upgrade process typically leaves existing customer data and preferences intact while replacing the existing software with the newer version.</li></ul>

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