idempotent

enUK

idempotent

(ˈaɪdəmˌpəʊtənt; ˈɪd-) adj (Mathematics) maths (of a matrix, transformation, etc) not changed in value following multiplication by itself[C20: from Latin idem same + potent¹]

i•dem•po•tent

(ˈaɪ dəmˈpoʊt nt, ˈɪd əm-)
Math. adj. 1. (of a number or matrix) unchanged when multiplied by itself. n. 2. an idempotent element. [1870; idem + potent¹]

Thesaurus

Adj.

idempotent - unchanged in value following multiplication by itself; "this matrix is idempotent"math, mathematics, maths - a science (or group of related sciences) dealing with the logic of quantity and shape and arrangementunchanged - not made or become different; "the causes that produced them have remained unchanged"

idempotent

enUK

idempotent

[¦i‚dem¦pōt·ənt] (mathematics) An element x of an algebraic system satisfying the equation x ²= x. An algebraic system in which every element x satisfies x ²= x.

idempotent

(1)A function f : D -> D is idempotent if

f (f x) = f x for all x in D.

I.e. repeated applications have the same effect as one. Thiscan be extended to functions of more than one argument,e.g. Boolean & has x & x = x. Any value in the image of anidempotent function is a fixed point of the function.

idempotent

(2)This term can be used to describe C header files, whichcontain common definitions and declarations to be included byseveral source files. If a header file is ever included twiceduring the same compilation (perhaps due to nested #includefiles), compilation errors can result unless the header filehas protected itself against multiple inclusion; a header fileso protected is said to be idempotent.

idempotent

(3)The term can also be used to describe an initialisationsubroutine that is arranged to perform some critical actionexactly once, even if the routine is called several times.

idempotent

An operation that produces the same results no matter how many times it is performed. For example, a database query that does not change any data in the database is idempotent.

Functions can be designed as idempotent if all that is desired is to ensure a certain operation has been completed. For example, with an idempotent delete function, if a request to delete a file is successfully completed for one program, all subsequent requests to delete that file from other programs would return the same success confirmation message. In a non-idempotent delete function, an error would be returned for the second and subsequent requests indicating that the file was not there.

idempotent

idempotent

i•dem•po•tent

idempotent

idempotent

idempotent

idempotent

idempotent

idempotent

idempotent

Words related to idempotent

adj unchanged in value following multiplication by itself

Related Words