Microsoft is adopting the following standard terminology to describe software updates:

• Connector

  Definition: A connector is a software component that is designed to support connections between software.

• Critical-on-demand (COD)

  Definition: A Critical-on-Demand hotfix is requested by a customer who experiences significant loss or degradation of business services.

  Additional information: These hotfixes can be requested by any customer, regardless of their support level, if the customer meets the criteria for the request. These hotfixes are released on or before a mutually agreed-upon date based on the customer’s need. These hotfix builds can contain one or more fixes.

• Critical update

  Definition: A critical update is a broadly released fix for a specific problem that addresses a critical, non-security-related bug.

  Additional information: Critical updates are available for customers to download and are accompanied by a Microsoft Knowledge Base article.

• Cumulative update (CU)

  Definition: A CU is a roll-up update that contains all previous critical on-demand hotfixes to date. Additionally, a CU contains fixes for issues that meet the hotfix acceptance criteria. These criteria may include the availability of a workaround, the effect on the customer, the reproducibility of the problem, the complexity of the code that must be changed, or other reasons.

  Additional Information: This update can be requested by any customer, regardless of their support level. These updates are released on every two months.

• Development kit

  Definition: A development kit is software that is designed to help developers write new programs. Development kits typically include a visual builder, an editor, and a compiler.

• Driver

  Definition: A driver is a software component that is designed to support new hardware.

• Feature pack

  Definition: A feature pack is new product functionality that is first distributed outside the context of a product release and that is typically included in the next full product release.

• General distribution release (GDR)

  Definition: A GDR fixes an issue that has broad customer impact or that has security implications. A GDR is determined and issued only by Microsoft. Microsoft tries to release as few GDRs as possible.

  Additional information: A GDR cannot be requested by a customer. Microsoft determines whether a specific hotfix is classified and delivered as a GDR through an internal process. A GDR is released through the Microsoft Download Center. A GDR may also be released through Microsoft Update or Windows Update.

  A hotfix package does not replace a service pack. A hotfix package is optional. A hotfix package can be installed or uninstalled at any time. Additionally, hotfix packages are cumulative. Therefore, the latest on-demand hotfix package or cumulative update hotfix package includes all previously released hotfixes.

• Guidance

  Definition: Guidance includes scripts, sample code, and technical documentation that is designed to help deploy and use a product or a technology.

• Hotfix

  Definition: A hotfix is a single, cumulative package that includes one or more files that are used to address a problem in a product and are cumulative at the binary and file level. A hotfix addresses a specific customer situation and may not be distributed outside the customer’s organization.

  Additional information: Hotfixes are distributed by Microsoft Customer Service and Support. Customers may not redistribute hotfixes without written, legal consent from Microsoft.

• On-demand (OD)

  Definition: An on-demand hotfix must meet certain criteria. The customer’s business must be functioning with minor or no impediment of services. These criteria include a lack of an effective workaround, a critical business effect, or other reasons.

  Additional information: These hotfixes can be requested by any customer, regardless of their support level, if the customer meets the criteria for the request. These hotfixes are released on or before a mutually agreed-upon date based on the customer’s need. This hotfix build can contain one or more fixes.

• Public update (PU)
  
  Definition: A public update (PU) is an update that contains both security and nonsecurity fixes. Public updates are released each month. All customers can download PUs, regardless of support level. Public updates include all previously released security fixes.
• Security update

  Definition: A security update is a widely released fix for a product-specific, security-related vulnerability. Security vulnerabilities are rated based on their severity. The severity rating is indicated in the Microsoft security bulletin as critical, important, moderate, or low.

  Additional information: Microsoft security updates are available for customers to download and are accompanied by two documents: a security bulletin and a Microsoft Knowledge Base article. For more information about the format of Microsoft Knowledge Base articles for Microsoft security updates, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

  824689 Description of the format of Microsoft Knowledge Base articles for Microsoft Security Updates
• Service pack

  Definition: A service pack is a tested, cumulative set of all hotfixes, security updates, critical updates, and updates. Service packs may also contain additional fixes for problems that are found internally since the release of the product and a limited number of customer-requested design changes or features.

  Additional information: Microsoft service packs are available for download and are accompanied by a Microsoft Knowledge Base article.

• Software update

  Definition: A software update is any update, update rollup, service pack, feature pack, critical update, security update, or hotfix that is used to improve or to fix a software product that is released by Microsoft Corporation.

  Additional information: A Microsoft software update is accompanied by a Microsoft Knowledge Base article.

• Tool

  Definition: A tool is a utility or a feature that helps to complete a task or a set of tasks.

• Update

  Definition: An update is a widely released fix for a specific problem. An update addresses a noncritical, non-security-related bug.

  Additional information: Microsoft updates are available for customers to download and are accompanied by a Microsoft Knowledge Base article.

• Update rollup

  Definition: An update rollup is a tested, cumulative set of hotfixes, security updates, critical updates, and updates that are packaged together for easy deployment. A rollup generally targets a specific area, such as security, or a component of a product, such as Internet Information Services (IIS).

  Additional information: Microsoft update rollups are available for customers to download and are accompanied by a Microsoft Knowledge Base article. Customers may not redistribute update rollups without written, legal consent from Microsoft.

• Upgrade

  Definition: An upgrade is a software package that replaces an installed version of a product with a newer version of the same product. The upgrade process typically leaves existing customer data and preferences intact while replacing the existing software with the newer version.