bidirectional

Intermediate 💻 Tech / IT

Definition

Technical jargon for "goes both ways," describing systems, data flows, or communication channels that work in two opposite directions simultaneously. It's the difference between a walkie-talkie (unidirectional, one person talks while the other listens) and a phone call (bidirectional, where both people can interrupt each other freely). Engineers love this word because it makes simple concepts sound impressively complex.

Example Usage

The new API supports bidirectional data sync, so changes made on your phone instantly appear on your laptop and vice versa.

Source: Common technical terminology

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