text: ---
  header-id: patching-basics
  ---
  
  # Patching Basics
  
  [TOC levels=1-4]
  
  <aside class="alert alert-info">
    <span class="wysiwyg-color-blue120">This document has been updated and ported to <a href="https://learn.liferay.com/dxp/7.x/en/installation-and-upgrades/maintaining-a-liferay-dxp-installation/patching-liferay/understanding-patch-types.html">Liferay Learn</a> and is no longer maintained here.</span>
  </aside>
  
  Liferay ships @product-ver@ fixes through three different channels: 
  
  - Fix packs 
  - Hotfixes 
  - Service Packs 
  
  ## Fix Packs
  
  The latest fixes that patch the core are bundled together weekly into fix packs
  that are provided to all of Liferay's customers. Fix packs include fixes for
  both the core and the applications and modules that ship with @product@. The
  fixes address regressions or obvious bugs and don't require you to make
  additional changes. Each fix pack contains all previous fix packs since the last
  service pack. 
  
  [Security Fix Packs](https://help.liferay.com/hc/en-us/articles/360035038331) 
  are a special fix pack type for deploying critical security fixes quickly
  without changing fix pack levels. 
  
  Fixes that don't fit these requirements are considered for service packs or hot
  fixes. 
  
  ## Hotfixes
  
  A hotfix is provided to customers when they contact Liferay about an emergency
  situation, and Liferay's support team---working with the customer---determines
  that the problem is a product issue that must be fixed very quickly. Support
  fixes the bug and provides a hotfix to the customer immediately. This is
  a short-term fix. Hotfixes can patch the core, the applications, and modules. 
  
  ## Service Packs
  
  Service packs are built on top of the original @product@ release and repackaged
  with the latest fix pack, Patching Tool, and modules. Since a service pack is a
  fix pack, it contains all previous fix packs since the last service pack. Each
  one includes the most recent patches and updates. 
  
  Service packs can also include changes that have these characteristics:
  
  - Require more extensive testing. 
  - Require some of your attention, such as updating your documentation.
  - Improve the product. 
  
  Rather than updating existing @product@ systems with service packs, you should
  
  1.  Keep systems up-to-date with fix packs (according to your own deployment
      schedule).
  
  2.  Install the latest Marketplace updates frequently.
  
  3.  Update the Patching Tool when necessary.
  
  This method updates the installation to the service pack levels, while allowing
  scheduled deployments and avoiding full environment rebuilds. 
  
  ## How Patches are Tested
  
  Liferay extensively tests service packs, fix packs, and hotfixes to ensure high
  quality. Fixes in fix packs go through both automated regression testing and
  manual testing. Hotfixes receive similar automated testing, and the support
  engineer who fixes a reported issue tests it. 
  
  Before releasing a service pack, Liferay runs test suites on the packaged
  service pack. 
  