Upgrade

Upgrade is the process of improving something by replacing part of it or adding additional parts, and it refers to the result of the process. For example, one can upgrade a computer by replacing the CPU with a faster one and by adding more RAM, and afterwards, the computer is an upgrade. Although often used in the context of technology, anything can be upgraded; improved.

Often an update is an upgrade but not always. Update only implies newer; more up-to-date. An update could degrade, or changing to an older version could be an upgrade.

Common hardware upgrades include additional memory and storage, and replacing the CPU and graphics card with faster components.

Updating hardware involves the risk of compatibility. For example, added RAM may not be compatible with existing RAM in a computer. Other hardware components may not be compatible after either an upgrade or downgrade, due to the non-availability of compatible drivers for the hardware with a specific operating system.

In order to upgrade software, a package is often downloaded over the Internet; sometimes directly by a user and sometimes automatically by a computer. The package may contain only the data needed to modify the existing version; not the entirety of the software. An upgrade may include improved functionality and bug fixes such as to eliminate a security vulnerability.

Common reasons to create an software upgrade package:

Upgrading software involves the risk of introducing a bug into the software that might cause it to malfunction. For example, in October 2005, a glitch in a update caused trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange to shut down for most of the day.

A software upgrade might result in incompatibility that causes hardware to stop functioning.