form factor

[ fawrm fak-ter ]

noun

1. Computers. the design specifications of computing electronics that enforce uniformity and allow interchangeability of components:

   the form factor for circuit boards.

2. the physical dimensions of an electronic device:

   The form factor of the new phone is thinner and lighter than that of the older models.

Word History and Origins

Origin of form factor¹

First recorded in 1995–2000

Example Sentences

"For making an actual product, you would need to package it into a usable form factor," he explains.

From Science Daily

"Judging by the success of the Switch, we expect the new device to be a similar form factor and to continue the legacy of the original product," he said.

From BBC

This form factor is roughly 100 times smaller than its amplifier counterpart, making it extremely attractive as a measurement device.

From Science Daily

"This breakthrough in theory established the relationship between the measurement of deeply virtual Compton scattering to the gravitational form factor. And we were able to use that for the first time and extract the pressure that we did in the Nature paper in 2018, and now the normal force and the shear force," Burkert explained.

From Science Daily

Now, the two men and their companies are teaming up to develop a device that would succeed the smartphone and deliver the benefits of A.I. in a new form factor, unconstrained by the rectangular screen that has been the dominant computing tool of the past decade, according to two people familiar with the discussions.

From New York Times