Glossary

Glossary

These are the core terms you will see throughout this wiki. Understanding them makes the rest of the guides much easier to follow.

Jailbreak

A jailbreak is the software process that temporarily unlocks the PS4 so it can run unsigned code. It is firmware-specific and not permanent: the unlock is lost on power-off and must be re-run each time you boot.

Firmware

The firmware (or system software) is the version number of the PS4's operating system. Because the console cannot be downgraded, firmware permanently decides which methods are available to you. Check it under Settings > System > System Information.

GoldHEN

GoldHEN is the homebrew enabler that runs after a successful jailbreak. It provides the environment that lets homebrew applications and plugins launch on the unlocked system.

Payload

A payload is the small piece of code sent to the console to perform the unlock or load a tool. Payloads are typically delivered to the running jailbreak to trigger a specific action.

Host

A host is the device or page that serves payloads to the PS4, often over your local network. The console connects to the host to receive the data needed to unlock or run software.

Keep these definitions in mind as you read the firmware and safety pages, where they appear repeatedly.