What is a “capstone track” in a Master’s program? I've read in this other question:


  The Master's program (Software Engineering) I'm enrolled in offers both a thesis track and capstone track.


I'm somewhat familiar with the overall US academic system, but I've never heard of a “capstone track” before. I web-searched it, and found quite a few institutions that offer it, it seems a sort of more practice-oriented or business-oriented way of completing a given degree. It does not appear to be universal.

So: what is a “capstone track” in general, and how is it different from a Master of Engineering degree?
Many software engineering programs offer the option of a "capstone" software project instead of a thesis to complete the degree.  This is typically a project that stretches over a full semester, or year, or even longer.  In my department, these projects are designed in cooperation with local industry, so there are real "customers". The  intention is that the project will force the student to synthesize all the skills and knowledge acquired in other classes in the program, and will give them something closer to real-world experience that a typical class project.  

As for "how is this different from a Master of Engineering", I have no idea.  Everybody gives their degrees different names; there is no standard. (My department offers a capstone project only for undergrads; the degree is a Bachelor of Science whether you do the project or not.)