Device-dependent

Device-dependent describes something that relies on the specific characteristics or capabilities of a particular hardware device or platform to function correctly. This means its operation or appearance is directly tied to features like screen resolution, processing power, operating system, input methods, or other hardware limitations. Programs, data formats, or user interfaces can all be device-dependent, requiring adjustments or compatibility layers to work across diverse hardware ecosystems.

Device-dependent meaning with examples

• The mobile game's graphics were device-dependent. They looked fantastic on high-end smartphones but experienced significant performance issues and visual degradation on older, less powerful devices with smaller screens. Developers had to implement different quality settings for varied hardware.
• A specific printer driver is a device-dependent software. It's designed to translate general print commands into instructions understood by that printer model. Using a different driver would either fail to print or produce unpredictable results, lacking critical features or compatibility.
• Certain file formats can be device-dependent. For instance, a video file encoded with a codec supported by a particular media player might not play correctly on a device lacking that codec or with limited processing capabilities, causing errors or playback issues.
• Consider a device-dependent touch interface. The navigation gestures would be useless on devices without touch screens. The design will heavily influence how the user interacts. Without direct input methods, the features are unavailable.
• A legacy application might use device-dependent memory mapping techniques specific to a certain type of hardware. Porting the application to a new system may involve significant rewriting, as these hardware dependencies restrict cross-platform compatibility.