Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jun 12, 2026

Workaround

A workaround is a bypass of a recognized problem or limitation in a system or policy. A workaround is typically a temporary fix that implies that a genuine solution to the problem is needed. But workarounds are frequently as creative as true solutions, involving outside the box thinking in their creation.

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Part of the Miles Glacier Bridge, with a temporary repair after a March 1964 earthquake and was not permanently repaired until July 2004 source ↗
Barriers installed to slow down cyclists have been bypassed by creating a desire path so that they do not have to brake, thus showing a literal example of a workaround and the path of least resistance source ↗

A workaround is a bypass of a recognized problem or limitation in a system or policy.1 A workaround is typically a temporary fix23 that implies that a genuine solution to the problem is needed. But workarounds are frequently as creative as true solutions, involving outside the box thinking45 in their creation.

Typically they are considered brittle6 in that they will not respond well to further pressure from a system beyond the original design. In implementing a workaround it is important to flag the change so as to later implement a proper solution.7

Placing pressure on a workaround may result in later system failures. For example, in computer programming workarounds are often used to address a problem or anti-pattern in a library, such as an incorrect return value. When the library is changed, the workaround may break the overall program functionality, effectively becoming an anti-pattern, since it may expect the older, wrong behaviour from the library.

Workarounds can also be a useful source of ideas for improvement of products or services.8

When the legal system places an obstacle in the form of a restriction or requirement, the law may provide a possible workaround. Laws intended to tap into what may seem to be deep pockets may lead to what are at least temporary solutions such as:

  • Since "most French workplace laws affect businesses with 50 or more employees... many French companies opt to employ only 49 people in avoidance of crippling legislations."9
  • An injunction against Microsoft regarding XML features and an easy technical workaround, a patent attorney suggested having two versions of MS Word, one with and one without the feature.10

Acronyms

Some well-known acronyms were created to work around bureaucratic or contracting restrictions:

  • PDP - The term was used to describe a computer by another name, due to contracting complications for purchasing or leasing computers. The term PDP (Programmed Data Processor or Programmable Data Processor) was a workaround.11121314 The name "PDP" intentionally avoids the use of the term "computer".1516 PDPs were aimed at a market that could not afford larger computers.
  • GNU - GNU's Not UNIX. As AT&T's prices for academic licensing and use of UNIX increased,17 new restrictions on maximum number of concurrent users and limitations on types of use1718 created a motivation for an alternative: a work-alike workaround. Among the better known ones are:
  • PSAP. By contrast with hearing aids, the sale of which is more regulated1920 and more expensive,21 a Personal Sound Amplification Product (PSAP) is lower in price albeit more limited in capability.
See also

See also

References

References

  1. Arif Wibisono, Ibrahim Alhassan, David Sammon, Ciara Heavin, Gaye Kiely, Erma Suryani (2019). "Understanding Theory of Workarounds in Practice". Procedia Computer Science. 161 (3): 187–194. doi:10.1016/j.procs.2019.11.114.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. "IT: a temporary method for dealing with a computer or software problem until a more permanent solution is found: One easy workaround is to ..."
  3. "work around - Definition". Cambridge English Dictionary.
  4. "It requires that social workers think 'outside the box' - outside their normal frames of ...
  5. Mel Gray; John Coates; Michael Yellow Bird (2008). ndigenous Social Work Around the World: Towards Culturally Relevant. Ashgate Publishing. ISBN 978-0754648383.
  6. "Workaround [#1176558]". Drupal.org. 2 June 2011.
  7. "How to Fix the 'A [?]' Autocorrect Bug in iOS 11 When Typing 'i'". 7 November 2017.
  8. "Can't You Just Ask People?". TheAnthroGuys. Archived from the original on 2014-03-02. Retrieved 2014-08-08.
  9. Anurag Harsh (2017). Thinking Tech: Thoughts On the Key Technological Trends of Our Times. ISBN 978-1483595900.
  10. "'Easy workaround' could solve Microsoft Word's legal woes, says expert". reuters.com. August 14, 2009.
  11. Montgomery, H. E.; Uccellini, L. W. (October 1985). "VAS Demonstration" (PDF). nasa.gov.
  12. "New Market Disruption: The DEC Programmable Data Processor". harvard.edu. Archived from the original on 2017-09-15. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  13. R Belcher (2013). Computers in Analytical Chemistry. Elsevier. p. 153. ISBN 978-1483285627. "The term PDP is an acronym for Programmable Data Processor ... the series was introduced by their manufacturer, Digital Equipment Corporation ..."
  14. "The History of Digital Equipment Corporation". Archived from the original on 2020-12-20. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  15. Henderson, edited by Rebecca M.; Newell, Richard G. (2011). Accelerating energy innovation : insights from multiple sectors. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 180. ISBN 978-0226326832. {{cite book}}: |first1= has generic name (help)
  16. Huang, Han-Way (2014). The atmel AVR microcontroller : MEGA and XMEGA in assembly and C. Australia; United Kingdom: Delmar Cengage Learning. p. 4. ISBN 978-1133607298.
  17. "Old licenses and prices". Archived from the original on 2023-03-26. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  18. restricting " universities that wanted to use the system for their internal business (e.g. student registration) as distinct from teaching and research
  19. Since a licensed audiologist is required
  20. Neil DiSarno (22 June 2014). "Pros and Cons of Inexpensive Hearing Aids Called PSAPs". Wall Street Journal.
  21. Kochkin, Sergei, Ph.D. "MarkeTrak VIII: Utilization of PSAPs and Direct-Mail Hearing Aids by People with Hearing Impairment" (PDF).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)