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What does "legacy" mean in programming?

legacy is one of the most common terms in software development. This guide explains what it means, how it is used in practice, and why it matters, with real examples from the developer world.

Definition

Code, systems, or technologies that are outdated but still in use because replacing them is risky or expensive. Legacy code is often hard to change because it lacks tests and documentation.

Example

"We cannot refactor that module; it is legacy code that three other services depend on."

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