Discoverability is the capacity of something to be found. The term is used in many different contexts in IT (information technology).

Here are a few examples of discoverability:

• In a marketing context, discoverability refers to the ability of a consumer to find a product at the time when they have a need for it.
• In the context of regulatory compliance, discoverability is a requirement that data be stored in such a manner that it can be accessed if necessary. E-discovery refers to the processes involved in producing electronic data for evidence in a civil or criminal legal case.
• In website development, discoverability is a design consideration intended to make it possible for visitors to the site to easily find the site elements that they seek. 
• In a services-oriented architecture (SOA) context, discoverability is a design principle that seeks to improve interoperability among services through the use of metadata. The purpose is to encourage reuse of components and lessen the chance of redundant service development. 
• In a mobile context, discoverability is the capacity of a mobile device, such as a smartphone or tablet, to be found by another device.

13 Nov 2012