Overwriting: meaning, definitions and examples

๐Ÿ“
Add to dictionary

overwriting

 

[ หŒoสŠvษ™rหˆraษชtษชล‹ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

data management

Overwriting refers to the process of replacing existing data on a storage medium with new data. This can happen intentionally, such as when saving a file with the same name, or unintentionally in cases of data corruption.

Synonyms

erase, replace, supersede, update.

Examples of usage

  • I accidentally overwrote my document while trying to save it.
  • The software allows you to overwrite the existing settings.
  • Always create a backup before overwriting important files.
Context #2 | Verb

programming

In programming, overwriting often refers to replacing the contents of a variable or data structure with new values. This is a common operation that allows developers to modify or refresh data during execution.

Synonyms

modify, reassign, replace.

Examples of usage

  • The function overwrites the previous value of the variable.
  • Make sure not to overwrite the data unintentionally.
  • When you overwrite a function, you replace its behavior.

Translations

Translations of the word "overwriting" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น sobrescrever

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค“เคตเคฐเคฐเคพเค‡เคŸเคฟเค‚เค—

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช รœberschreiben

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ menimpa

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ะฟะตั€ะตะทะฐะฟะธั

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ nadpisywanie

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ไธŠๆ›ธใ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท รฉcrasement

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ sobrescritura

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท รผzerine yazma

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๋ฎ์–ด์“ฐ๊ธฐ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ุงู„ูƒุชุงุจุฉ ููˆู‚

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ pล™epsรกnรญ

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ prepisovanie

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ่ฆ†็›–

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ prepisovanje

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ yfirskrift

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะถะฐะทัƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ’แƒแƒ“แƒแƒฌแƒ”แƒ แƒ

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ รผstรผ yazma

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ sobrescritura

Etymology

The term 'overwriting' originated from the verb 'overwrite,' which dates back to the early computing days in the mid-20th century. The prefix 'over-' suggests a sense of beyond or excessive, indicating that the new data goes over the old data, effectively replacing it. In the context of data management, overwriting became increasingly relevant as computer systems evolved and the importance of data integrity grew. With the advent of user-friendly interfaces and file management systems, the concept of overwriting has become commonplace, describing not only how users interact with their files but also how programming languages manage memory and variables.