Format rot
Encyclopedia
In computer science
Computer science
Computer science or computing science is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems...

, "format rot" refers to the loss of data not due to losing information, but due to losing the means to interpret it by either an unavailability of software to parse the format, unavailability of the operating system to run said software, or unavailability of hardware to run said operating system. Contrast open format
Open format
An open file format is a published specification for storing digital data, usually maintained by a standards organization, which can therefore be used and implemented by anyone. For example, an open format can be implementable by both proprietary and free and open source software, using the typical...

 to proprietary format.
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