In plain English
It means taking information that exists somewhere else and adding it into this software so the software can work with it. The source may be a different program, a different system, or a different file format. The focus is on bringing that data into the software, not on creating it there.
In context
Here, import labels the action of bringing an external file or other outside content into the app for use in it.
- Situation
- Creating, saving, sharing, versioning, and restoring files
- What it communicates
- labels the action for bringing an external file or content source into the app.
Meaning limits
This sense is only about bringing existing data into software, not about sending data out of it.
Examples
“The clerk imported the address list from a spreadsheet into the payroll program.”
“When a supplier sends new prices, Maya imports the file into the app.”