, The ability of software and hardware on multiple machines from multiple vendors to communicate. [Computer 
and
Information Sciences] 
n., The processes, technologies and protocols required to ensure data integrity when transferring it from one computer s
ystem to
another, together with the transmission of meaningful and correct results to the end user. [Computer and Information Sciences] 
iso 
n., [diplomatics] An element of the documentary form of a record that constitutes its internal composition and th