Jump to content

Software engine

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This is the current revision of this page, as edited by Fluyt (talk | contribs) at 18:05, 22 November 2025 (Correction.). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this version.
(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)

A software engine is a core component of a complex software system. The word "engine" is a metaphor of a car's engine. Thus a software engine is a complex subsystem; not unlike how a car engine functions. Software engines work in conjunction with other components of a process or system. They typically have an input and an output, and the productivity is usually linear to running speed.

There is no formal guideline for what should be called an engine, but the term has become widespread in the software industry.[1][2][3]

Notable examples

[edit]

Multi-engine systems

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d "10 Types of Software Engines That You Should Know About". spiceworks.com. In different contexts, software engines can mean different things.
  2. ^ "Engine". Techopedia. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
  3. ^ "Definition of engine". pcmag.com.
  4. ^ "How it works". VirusTotal.
  5. ^ "layout-engine · GitHub Topics". GitHub.