func·tion·al·i·ty

The quality of being functional.
A useful function within a computer application or program.
The capacity of a computer program or application to provide a useful function.
Source: The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language

functionality

<programming> Waffle for "features" or "function". The
capabilities or behaviours of a program, part of a program, or system, seen as the sum of its features. Roughly, "the things it can do". Generally used in a comparitive sense, e.g. "The latest update adds some useful functionality".

Source: The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2003 Denis Howe

I use this word almost daily and occasionally worry about it. It has the feel of one of those words for which there should be a better alternative. The definition from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, as "waffle", tends to confirm my fears. To make things worse, I even find myself using it in a plural.

Am I alone in this? Is treatment available?

Perhaps you’re being a little hard on yourself, Derek. The word really doesn’t bother me that much. I also use it fairly often to describe "the things a widget does". I don’t think features (which, as both a noun and a verb, can cause ambiguity or simply a clunkier read) or function are quite the same thing. Indeed, some functionality can be created by a number of functions working together.

I don’t have to question the function (or indeed the features) of a musical can opener constructed from recycled egg cartons, but I might well question its functionality.

If we’re going to start cutting out waffle words, there are some candidates WAY further up the list than this one, in my opinion.

- PW

About the use of the word functionality:

DerekB:

Am I alone in this? Is treatment available?

Yes, we are all ultimately alone with our functionality, but, yes, there is treatment available.  It is called "Laconic Reversion Therapy" and it really works.  It’s expensive, though, but simple.  The use of Latin and Greek roots are discouraged, as well as other none Anglo-Saxon intrusion into English.

For example:

Functionality= "it can work", " it is working", "it is able to work", "it runs good", but avoid conjoining morphemes when possible, such as: "it has workableness*."

Sitran
                   

avoid conjoining morphemes when possible

Good advice, Sitran.

Never fear, your morphemes will never be conjoined by me as long as I can still draw breath.   ;D

- PW
who is starting to wonder about his own functionality  ;)

Because I am a computer nerd, I can appreciate this thread.  Thanks for bringing this up!

For a more trade-specific definition of functionality and other computer terms, I always refer to WHATIS.COM‘s definitions.

functionality

In information technology, functionality (from Latin functio meaning "to perform") is the sum or any aspect of what a product, such as a software application or computing device, can do for a user.

A product’s functionality is used by marketers to identify product features and enables a user to have a set of capabilities. Functionality may or may not be easy to use.

Also see function.

Last updated on: Sep 19, 2000

-Tim