A device that can be plugged into a computer while it is turned on and the computer will sense the device and configure it without rebooting, or the device can be removed without an OS error. Also called hot-pluggable.

Hot-swapping lets you plug in and unplug a hardware device while a computer is on—there's no need to reboot. One of the most common hot-swappable examples: Universal Serial Bus (USB), which allows you to easily add or remove peripherals like a printer, keyboard or mouse.

(adj.) Capable of enabling insertion or removal of a device while the computer is powered on and in operation.

The ability to change the battery without taking the critical load off the UPS.