In a computer system, “hot-swap” refers to the ability of removing or adding components while the system remains powered, without needing to shut down or reboot the system. Components that support this feature are said to be “hot‑swap” or “hot-plug” compatible.
A well-known example of hot-swap capability is the ever-present Universal Serial Bus (USB). USB allows peripherals such as a keyboard, mouse, printer, etc., to be easily inserted and removed without interrupting system power.