What is a notable characteristic of COTS applications?

COTS applications, or Commercial Off-The-Shelf applications, are primarily designed for widespread use and typically come as complete solutions ready to be deployed without the need for extensive customization. A notable characteristic of these applications is that they are not intended for alteration by the end user. This means that while users can install and utilize these applications, the underlying code and functionalities are fixed, limiting the ability of end users to modify the software to suit their specific needs.

This design simplifies the deployment process and ensures that the application can be used effectively by a large audience without requiring deep technical knowledge or programming skills. The focus on standardization and ease of use allows organizations to integrate COTS software quickly, saving time and resources compared to developing custom solutions from scratch.