Shim
/ʃɪm/ · Noun · Verb · Development
Definitions
A thin layer of code that intercepts and translates API calls, providing compatibility between old and new interfaces or filling in missing functionality. Named after the thin piece of wood used to fill gaps in construction.
In plain English: A small piece of code that makes an old program work with a new system (or vice versa) by translating between them — like an adapter plug for foreign outlets.
Etymology
- 1800s
- In construction, a shim is a thin wedge used to fill gaps and make surfaces level — a small piece that makes things fit
- 1990s
- Software adopts the term for a thin compatibility layer that intercepts API calls and translates them for a different system
- 2010s
- JavaScript polyfills and shims become essential for cross-browser compatibility during the browser wars era