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Original · left

Payload (cargo or warhead)

The revenue-generating cargo, passenger freight, or explosive warhead carried on an aircraft or rocket.

First in use: the 1930s
Duplicate · right

Payload (computing)

The functional malicious code delivered by an exploit, or the core data body carried inside a network transmission.

First in use: the 1990s

Payload / Payload (cargo or warhead) / Payload (computing)

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Duplicate share · 12 mo—
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Colour keyGrey · original meaningGreen · duplicate meaningAmber · contested (40–60%)How colours work

Rocket cargo vs. malware and request bodies.

Which meaning of Payload is the original, and which one is the duplicate riding on its name? Payload (cargo or warhead) came first (the 1930s). Payload (computing) arrived in the 1990s. The data below shows which one owns the word now.

Wikipedia pageviews since 2015

Payload (cargo or warhead)Payload (computing)
English Wikipedia pageviews since July 2015 load here.

Duplicate's share of attention

Green line = duplicate's % · above 60 it owns the word · below 40 the original does

Share-of-attention line loads here.

The case for each meaning

Sourced definitions, usage stats and quotes

Original · the 1930s

Payload (cargo or warhead)

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Duplicate · the 1990s

Payload (computing)

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More duplicated terms

Cybersecurity

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