compatibility; interchangeability
Technical term used in engineering, computing, and standards contexts to describe the ability of components, systems, or formats to work together or be substituted for one another.
This software is not compatible with older versions.
Please check the compatibility of the parts before ordering.
downward compatibility; backward compatibility · upward compatibility; forward compatibility
upward compatibility; forward compatibility · downward compatibility; backward compatibility
forward compatibility; upward compatibility
backward compatibility; downward compatibility
interchangeability; interoperability
Compound of 互換 (interchange) + 性 (property/quality). 互換 is itself a compound of 互 (mutual) and 換 (exchange). The term is a relatively modern coinage for technical 'compatibility'.