In computer technology, a default (noun, pronounced dee-FAWLT )
is a predesigned value or setting that is used by a computer
program when a value or setting is not specified by the program
user. The program user can be either an interactive user of a
graphical user interface or command line interface, or a
programmer using an application program interface . When the
program receives a request from an interactive user or another
program, it looks at the information that has been passed to it.
If a particular item of information is not specified in the
information that is passed, the program uses the default value
that was defined for that item when the program was written. In
designing a program, each default is usually preestablished as
the value or setting that most users would probably choose. This
keeps the interface simpler for the interface user and means
that less information has to be passed and examined during each
program request. To the program requestor, to default (verb) is
to intentionally or acc