Software engine

A software engine is a core component of a complex software system. The word "engine" is a metaphor of a car's engine. Thus a software engine is a complex subsystem.

There is no formal guideline for what should be called an engine, but the term has become widespread in the software industry.^[1]^[2]^[3]

^ "10 Types of Software Engines That You Should Know About". spiceworks.com. In different contexts, software engines can mean different things.
^ "Engine". Techopedia. Retrieved 2023-06-29.
^ "Definition of engine". pcmag.com.