The word "patch" (from the English patch - "patch") appeared in the professional jargon of programmers at the time when the code was entered into computers on paper - punched tapes and punched cards. The programmers found on the tape a section with incorrectly punched holes, cut out this place and pasted the corrected fragment - "put a patch".
Now patches are called auxiliary programs that contain fixes and additions to the previously released main ones. Usually, errors in the code identified during operation are eliminated, design changes are made, new functions and capabilities are added, and performance is increased. Sometimes "patches" are used to translate the program interface into another language.
In computer games, patches are used to change rules and algorithms. Sometimes "patches" are released to prevent unscrupulous participants from cheating in the game, especially online. If the graphics or background music of the game changes, the size of the patch can reach hundreds of megabytes.
Information security becomes a very important issue for computers working in a network. Hackers look for holes in the operating system code that will allow them to inject spyware on someone else's computer. Code developers try to stay ahead of hackers and release security patches that close system vulnerabilities.
For example, in MS Windows, software updates are performed by the built-in Windows Update service. The versions of the software installed on the computer are checked, then the service offers to use the patches developed for these versions. The service can be configured for manual or automatic updates.
It should be borne in mind that the legality of the installed software is also checked. Owners of pirated versions will get an unpleasant surprise in the form of a crashed system if they decide to "patch" their computer.
The term "patch" is usually used when referring to small changes in the program code. A major software update is called a service pack. For example, 3 service packs were released for Windows XP.
