What is "bit rot"

n. 1 (context computing English) The putative tendency of content in storage to become corrupt over time. 2 (context computing English) The tendency of software in storage to develop bugs over time due to minor incompatibility with newer operating environments.

Bit rot may refer to:

• Bit Rot, a story written by Charles Stross
• Data rot, the electric charge of a bit in RAM disperses, possibly altering program code or stored data; or the phenomenon of storage media gradually decaying over time
• Software rot, a deterioration of software performance over time or its diminishing responsiveness because of the changing environment in which it resides