Glossary
Software bill of materials (SBOM)
Also called SBOM.
Definition
A software bill of materials is a machine-readable list of the components, libraries and versions that make up a piece of software.
Why it matters when you’re buying
When a new vulnerability is announced, an SBOM tells you quickly whether you are affected. Some government and regulated buyers now ask suppliers for SBOMs, so ask vendors which standard format they provide and how often it is updated.
How it relates to other terms
SBOMs are generated in CI/CD pipelines, list what is inside container images and are what you check first when a zero-day lands.
Where to go next
- Developer Tools: news, companies and community questions
- How to evaluate Developer Tools vendors: criteria, questions to ask and red flags
- Vulnerabilities and patching: the latest stories and threads on this topic
Written by Techarda editors · Updated . Think a definition is wrong or missing something? Email engage@techarda.com. All terms.