Bitrot

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The gradual deterioration of the quality of stored data occurs over time, often leading to corruption or loss due to lack of attention or technological advancements
2. An ongoing process where digital information loses its integrity and value, primarily due to factors like neglect or evolution in technology
3. The slow decline in the reliability of digital data happens over time, frequently resulting in corruption or degradation from neglect or changes in technology

Etymology: "Bitrot" is a compound of "bit," the basic unit of digital information, and "rot," the old word for the decay of organic matter. The pairing is a deliberate analogy: just as food or wood decays over time, stored data can slowly become unreadable or corrupted even though nothing has physically touched it. The term is written as one word in the source, though "bit rot" with a space is also used. The metaphor works on two levels. Storage media degrade physically, and file formats and software eventually fall out of use, so information survives on disk but can no longer be opened or interpreted.