Computer Hardware Terms, Glossary and Dictionary

Plug and Play is a term used in the computer field to describe a computer's ability to have new devices, normally peripherals, added to it without having to reconfigure or (ideally) restart the computer. There are a number of terms or variations that describe similar abilities, including PnP, and hot swapping. Since the introduction of the NuBus, the Apple Macintosh has been a plug-and-play computer.

Related Terms

PnP: Plug and Play