finitealgorithm

noun

UK /ˈfaɪnaɪt ˈælɡərɪðəm/

US /ˈfaɪnaɪt ˈælɡərɪðəm/

A finite algorithm is a set of steps that always stops after a limited number of moves.

The teacher explained that a finite algorithm for sorting cards will always finish in a few steps.

SYNONYMS

terminating procedure bounded algorithm finite procedure halting algorithm

RELATED WORDS

algorithm computation loop termination step

OTHER MEANINGS

2. A procedure guaranteed to halt on every input.

Proving the program is a finite algorithm required showing it never loops forever.

3. A step-by-step method with a fixed, countable number of operations.

The recipe behaves like a finite algorithm because it ends after ten steps.

4. In computing, a routine that always reaches a stop state.

The engineer verified the finite algorithm before running it on the robot.