Interoperability

Interoperability may refer to any of the following:

1. In general, interoperable is a characteristic of a product or system that seamlessly works with another product or system. For example, when you fill up your gas tank in your vehicle, you know your vehicle can be filled up at any gas station. To help create an interoperable product or system, standards must be created and followed.

2. Interoperability and network interoperability is the ability of different networks or programs to work or communicate together without additional tools or interfaces. For example, most networks today use TCP/IP, which is available for all operating systems, computers, and supported by almost every network.

In this current Internet age, it's important that networks of different types can communicate with other types of networks. Not being able to transfer data between networks may isolate a network and decrease efficiency.

Compatible, Heterogeneous network, Network terms, Protocol, Standard