<sod>  ** The [[Intel 80486]] processor is backward compatible with the [[Intel 80386|80386]] because it can execute programs written for the 80386.
 ** The [[Xbox 360]] is backward compatible with some [[Xbox]] games. Support for this function will improve over time.
 ** The [[Nintendo Revolution]] will be backward compatible with every [[Nintendo]] system. The [[Gamecube]] discs can go in the revolution, but older games ([[NES]], [[SNES]] and [[Nintendo 64]]) will be available through download.
*A piece of [[software]] is backward compatible if it can read or write data created by an older version.
** [[WordPerfect]] 6.0 can read WordPerfect 5.1 files
** It can be said that [[Perl]] is backward compatible with [[awk]], because Perl was (among other things) intended to replace awk, and can, with a converter, run awk programs.
 
 ==See also== 
 *[[Forward compatibility]]
 <eod> <sod> ** The [[Intel 80486]] processor is backward compatible with the [[Intel 80386|80386]] because it can execute programs written for the 80386.
 ** The [[Xbox 360]] is backward compatible with some [[Xbox]] games. Support for this function will improve over time.
 ** The [[Nintendo Revolution]] will be backward compatible with every [[Nintendo]] system. The [[Gamecube]] discs can go in the revolution, but older games ([[NES]], [[SNES]] and [[Nintendo 64]]) will be available through download.
*Other examples of backwards compatible software
** Microsoft Word 2000 was backwards compatible with Word `97 because it could read and write files in Word `97 format, with the understanding that features unique to Word 2000 would not appear in Word `97.
 
 ==See also== 
 *[[Forward compatibility]]
 <eod>