View source for Hack (technology)

A '''hack''' is an inelegant but effective solution to a problem. 

== Description ==

Similar terms include '''kludge''' and '''workaround'''.  All of these terms are common in [[computer programming]] and other sorts of [[technology]].

<blockquote>
A kludge (or kluge) (/klʌdʒ/, /kluːʒ/, /kluːdʒ/) is a workaround or quick-and-dirty solution that is clumsy, inelegant, difficult to extend and hard to maintain, yet an effective and quick solution to a problem. 

It is a rough synonym to the term "jury rig." 

The term is used in diverse fields such as computer science, aerospace engineering, internet slang and evolutionary neuroscience.
</blockquote>

Typically the hack is inelegant because the problem cannot be solved in the usual or expected manner, within a reasonable amount of time.

Hacks may explicitly breaks rules, doing things the system was not meant to do.

Hacks may exploit software bugs or undocumented features.

== See also ==

* [[CSS hacks]]
* [[Machine]]
* [[Technology]]

== External links == 

* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kludge Kludge] @ Wikipedia