Definition of bootstrap

The term "bootstrap" has its origins in the ancient game of bootstrapping, where someone attempts to pull themselves up by their bootstraps, an impossible task as bootstraps do not exist. The usage of the term in computer science can be traced back to the 1970s when early operating systems required users to insert a bootstrap program onto a computer's hardware before the operating system could be loaded. This bootstrap program would then guide the computer through the process of loading the operating system. In essence, the computer was pulling itself up by its proverbial bootstraps. The word has since come to be used in reference to self-sufficient systems, particularly those that have all the tools they need to start up without external aid. This definition has been applied to various fields beyond computing, such as finance and economics, where it describes a situation in which an economy is able to generate the resources it needs without foreign aid or investment.