# configuration management

CEFR C1 · Compound

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/configuration-management
Updated: 2026-07-22

## Definition

the process of keeping track of all the parts of a system and how they work together. It ensures that any changes to software or hardware are recorded and done correctly.

For teachers: a systems engineering process for establishing and maintaining consistency of a product's performance, functional, and physical attributes with its requirements and design throughout its life.

## Examples

- Good configuration management prevents errors when updating the software.
- The IT department implemented a new configuration management tool to track every hardware change across the company's global servers.
- Robust configuration management is essential in aerospace engineering to ensure that every component's history and current status are documented for safety and regulatory compliance.

## Usage notes

- Often used in technical contexts like software development, IT operations, and systems engineering.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.