lock-in definition of lock-in in the Free Online Encyclopedia.

lock-in [′läk ‚in]

(electronics)

Shifting and automatic holding of one or both of the frequencies of two oscillating systems which are coupled together, so that the two frequencies have the ratio of two integral numbers.

(standard)

lock-in - When an existing standard becomes almost impossible to supersede because of the cost or logistical difficulties involved in convincing all its users to switch something different and, typically, incompatible.

The common implication is that the existing standard is notably inferior to other comparable standards developed before or since.

Things which have been accused of benefiting from lock-in in the absence of being truly worthwhile include: the QWERTY keyboard; any well-known operating system or programming language you don't like (e.g., see "Unix conspiracy"); every product ever made by Microsoft Corporation; and most currently deployed formats for transmitting or storing data of any kind (especially the Internet Protocol, 7-bit (or even 8-bit) character sets, analog video or audio broadcast formats and nearly any file format).

Because of network effects outside of just computer networks, Real World examples of lock-in include the current spelling conventions for writing English (or French, Japanese, Hebrew, Arabic, etc.); the design of American money; the imperial (feet, inches, ounces, etc.) system of measurement; and the various and anachronistic aspects of the internal organisation of any government (e.g., the American Electoral College).

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No references found	lock front lock front bevel lock gate Lock Haven lock jamb lock joint lock keeper lock manager lock miter Lock Nut lock plate lock primer lock rail lock reinforcement lock reinforcing unit lock seam lock seam door lock step lock stepping lock stile lock strike lock up lock washer lock, air lock, canal lock-in lock-in amplifier lock-on lock-strip gasket lock-up relay lockalloy lockband Locke Locke, Alain Le Roy Locke, Bessie Locke, David Rose Locke, David Ross Locke, John locked and loaded locked groove locked oscillator locked phone locked up locked-coil rope locked-in line locked-oscillator detector locked-rotor current locked-wire rope locker locker plant Lockerbie	Lock Up CD Lock Up CDs Lock Up Certificate of Deposit Lock Up Certificates of Deposit Lock Up Garage Lock up period Lock Up Periods Lock Up Your Daughters Lock ups lock washer lock washer lock washer lock, air lock, air lock, canal Lock, Stock & Barrel Lock, Stock and Barrel Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels lock, stock, and barrel lock, stock, and barrel lock, stock, and barrel lock, stock, and barrel lock, stock, and barrel lock, stock, and barrel lock, stock, and barrel Lock-and-key model (enzyme) Lock-and-key model (enzyme) Lock-and-key model (enzyme) Lock-down lock-gate lock-in lock-in amendment Lock-In Amendments Lock-in amplifier lock-in clause lock-in period Lock-In Periods Lock-In Principal Lock-In Principals Lock-In Rate Lock-In Rates lock-ins lock-ins Lock-jaw Lock-jaw Lock-jaw Lock-Jumper Lock-Limit lock-on lock-on Lock-On After Launch Lock-On Before Launch Lock-On: Modern Air Combat lock-out lock-out lock-out lock-out Lock-Out Relay Lock-Outs Lock-Outs Lock-Outs

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Lock Up CD
Lock Up CDs
Lock Up Certificate of Deposit
Lock Up Certificates of Deposit
Lock Up Garage
Lock up period
Lock Up Periods
Lock Up Your Daughters
Lock ups
lock washer
lock washer
lock washer
lock, air
lock, air
lock, canal
Lock, Stock & Barrel
Lock, Stock and Barrel
Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels
lock, stock, and barrel
lock, stock, and barrel
lock, stock, and barrel
lock, stock, and barrel
lock, stock, and barrel
lock, stock, and barrel
lock, stock, and barrel
Lock-and-key model (enzyme)
Lock-and-key model (enzyme)
Lock-and-key model (enzyme)
Lock-down
lock-gate

lock-in

lock-in amendment
Lock-In Amendments
Lock-in amplifier
lock-in clause
lock-in period
Lock-In Periods
Lock-In Principal
Lock-In Principals
Lock-In Rate
Lock-In Rates
lock-ins
lock-ins
Lock-jaw
Lock-jaw
Lock-jaw
Lock-Jumper
Lock-Limit
lock-on
lock-on
Lock-On After Launch
Lock-On Before Launch
Lock-On: Modern Air Combat
lock-out
lock-out
lock-out
lock-out
Lock-Out Relay
Lock-Outs
Lock-Outs
Lock-Outs