English Reference

Word

SDK

Definition

n. Stands for Software Development Kit. A collection of tools, code libraries, and instructions that helps developers create software for a specific platform.

n. Abbreviation for Software Development Kit. A comprehensive set of development tools, including APIs, documentation, and libraries, designed for creating applications on a specific operating system or hardware platform.

Examples

“The company released a new SDK for its mobile operating system.”

“Before we can start building the new game, we need to download the latest SDK from the console manufacturer's website.”

“By providing a comprehensive SDK, the platform owner encourages third-party developers to create high-quality applications that integrate seamlessly with the existing ecosystem.”

Examples

simple

“The company released a new SDK for its mobile operating system.”

contextual

“Before we can start building the new game, we need to download the latest SDK from the console manufacturer's website.”

complex

“By providing a comprehensive SDK, the platform owner encourages third-party developers to create high-quality applications that integrate seamlessly with the existing ecosystem.”

Usage

Usually treated as a countable noun; developers often speak of 'downloading the SDK' or 'integrating an SDK'.

Teaching tip

While technically an initialism, it is almost always used as a noun in professional tech contexts to refer to the package of tools itself.

Etymology

An initialism of software development kit. The term follows the established naming convention for technical packages, such as the driver development kit (DDK).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Synonyms

dev kittoolkit

Domain

Programming

This entry

Level
C1 · Advanced
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English Reference