video game mod

Video game modding (from "modifying") is the process of player and fan-authored alteration of a video game and is a sub-discipline of general modding. A set of modifications, called a mod, can either alter an existing game or add user-generated content. Modders, people who mod video games, can introduce a variety of changes to games, including altering graphics, fixing bugs, and adding unique gameplay elements. Mod development uses official or user-made software development kits, distinguishing it from in-game creations. Modding a game can also be understood as the act of seeking and installing mods to the player's game.

People can become fans of specific mods and can involve themselves in the process of mod development and discourse. In cases where modding is popular, players use the term vanilla to describe the unmodified game (e.g. "Vanilla Minecraft").