recursiveencoding

noun

UK /rɪˈkɜːsɪv ɪnˈkəʊdɪŋ/

US /rɪˈkɜːrsɪv ɪnˈkoʊdɪŋ/

A way of hiding a message where the secret code is used again and again inside itself.

The spy used recursive encoding so that each layer of the message had to be unlocked before the next one appeared.

SYNONYMS

nested encoding self-referential encoding layered encoding recursive ciphering

RELATED WORDS

recursion encryption decoding cipher nesting

OTHER MEANINGS

2. In computing, a method where a function encodes data by calling itself on smaller pieces of the same data.

The programmer wrote a recursive encoding routine that compressed each folder by first compressing its subfolders.

3. A technique in data compression where the output of one encoding pass becomes the input to the next.

Recursive encoding reduced the file size dramatically after three passes.

4. A puzzle style where clues are encoded using the answer to a previous clue.

The escape room's final lock used recursive encoding, so solving clue three gave the key to clue four.