Criteria vs Compatibility - What's the difference?
criteria | compatibility |
The state of being compatible; in which two or more things are able to exist or perform together in combination without problems or conflict.
(telecommunication) the capability of two or more items or components of equipment or material to exist or function in the same system or environment without mutual interference.
(computing) the ability to execute a given program on different types of computers without modification of the program or the computers. See backward compatibility and forward compatibility.
(computing) the capability that allows the substitution of one subsystem (storage facility), or of one functional unit (e.g. , hardware, software), for the originally designated system or functional unit in a relatively transparent manner, without loss of information and without the introduction of errors.
(structural analysis) the continuity or good fit of material or members or components while being deformed.
As nouns the difference between criteria and compatibility
is that criteria is while compatibility is the state of being compatible; in which two or more things are able to exist or perform together in combination without problems or conflict.criteria
English
Usage notes
* The word criteria'' is often treated as singular or even uncountable, but these uses are usually still considered incorrect; the standard singular form is ''criterion''. The standard and most common plural form is ''criteria''; less common is ''criterions''.http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/criterion Merriam-Webster]: "The plural ''criteria'' has been used as a singular for over half a century[http://education.yahoo.com/reference/dictionary/entry/criterion American Heritage: "Like the analogous etymological plurals ''agenda'' and ''data'', ''criteria is widely used as a singular form. Unlike them, however, it is not yet acceptable in that use.". Many of our examples, like the two foregoing, are taken from speech. But singular ''criteria'' is not uncommon in edited prose, and its use both in speech and writing seems to be increasing. Only time will tell whether it will reach the unquestioned acceptability of ''agenda''."