idempotence
nounUK /ˌaɪdəmˈpoʊtəns/
US /ˌaɪdəmˈpoʊtəns/
Idempotence is when doing something again does not change the result.
Pressing the elevator button twice shows idempotence because the elevator still comes just once.
RELATED WORDS
OTHER MEANINGS
2. In mathematics, a property of an operation where applying it twice gives the same result as applying it once.
Addition of zero has idempotence because adding zero twice still leaves the number unchanged.
3. In computing, the quality of an operation that produces the same outcome no matter how many times it is run.
Saving a file with the same content twice relies on idempotence to avoid duplicates.
4. In algebra, the property of an element that equals its own square under a given operation.
The number 1 shows idempotence under multiplication because 1 times 1 is still 1.