In plain English
It means setting a document in the system aside for one person's edits. While it is checked out, other people cannot change that same version. That restriction lasts until it is checked in again.
In context
Here, "check out" labels the action of reserving the versioned document so one person can edit it and others cannot change that same version until it is checked in again.
- Situation
- Creating, saving, sharing, versioning, and restoring files
- What it communicates
- labels the action for taking editing control of a versioned document.
Meaning limits
The term itself does not say anything about what changes are made to the document; it only covers taking exclusive editing control of that version.
Examples
“Nadia checked out the policy document, and no one else could change that version until she checked it in again.”
“While the minutes are checked out to Ben, Carla can review them but cannot edit that version.”