Patch space




An unused block of bits left in a binary so that it can later be modified by insertion of machine-language instructions there (typically, the patch space is modified to contain new code, and the superseded code is patched to contain a jump or call to the patch space).

The widening use of HLLs has made this term rare; it is now primarily historical outside IBM shops.

See patch, zap, hook.

[Jargon File]





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PAT
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