The ability of computer systems or software to exchange and make use of information. To improve citizen care and support there is a need for more effective information sharing between care settings, organisations, and geographies, as well as between professionals and citizens. This is reliant on the ability of IT systems across health and social care to communicate with each other, hence the need for interoperability.

The term for the way that devices, platforms and systems from different suppliers are able to communicate consistently with one another