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Definition: housekeeping


(1) Instructions executed at the beginning of an application. Housekeeping resets all counters and flags to starting values and readies the program for user operation. See counter and flag.

(2) The routine maintenance that keeps a system running. For example, antivirus scans and defragmentation programs may be run periodically. At the end of a period, a conversion program might have to run to change one format into another. See utility program, defragment and antivirus program.