Interoperability Concept

With respect to software, the term interoperability is used to describe the capability of different programs to exchange data via a common set of exchange formats, to read and write the same file formats, and to use the same protocols. More generally, it means the ability of two or more systems or components to exchange information and to use the information that has been exchanged.

Interoperability is often accomplished via open or published standards, to which the participating systems adhere, as well as generalized architectures that promote and expose interoperable interfaces (APIs and well as defined exchange formats).