Solution patch
A delta solution containing only the changes since a base solution version — faster to deploy than full upgrades, layered on top of the base.
A solution patch in the Power Platform is a delta solution containing only the changes made since a base solution version. When a patch is imported, it layers on top of the existing base solution in the target environment — the base remains unchanged; the patch adds its modifications. Patches are faster to build and deploy than full upgrades and are the right tool for incremental fixes, hotfixes, and additive features. They cannot remove components from the base, only add or modify. Over time, multiple patches stack; periodic solution upgrades consolidate them into a new base, keeping the patch stack manageable. The healthy lifecycle pattern combines patches for speed with upgrades for cleanliness.