computation
computation
Noun
pl: computations
This term describes the systematic process of arriving at a numerical or logical conclusion. It carries a connotation of precision and rigor, often implying a sequence of steps governed by a strict set of rules or an algorithm. While it can refer to a single arithmetic act, it frequently describes the broader field of electronic data processing.
In a technical context, the word shifts from a simple act of counting to the architectural capability of a machine to execute instructions. It is distinct from mere calculation in that it often encompasses complex logic and data manipulation rather than just basic arithmetic.
Meanings
Nouncomputation
The act or process of calculating a mathematical or logical result.
The computation of the total cost took several minutes.
Examples
Related Words
calculationreckoningestimationprocessingarithmeticalgorithmcomputerprocessordatalogicbinarysoftwarehardwarecomplexitybitbytememoryinstructionexecutionvariablefunctionoperatoroperandsumproductquotientdifferenceintegerfloatmatrixvectorrecursioniterationcompilationinterpretersyntaxsemanticsarchitectureparallelismconcurrencylatencythroughputoptimizationheuristicautomatongrammarlanguagecodescriptprograminputoutputstoragecacheregisterbusclockcyclequantumcryptographyencryptiondecryptionhashsortingsearchingdatabasequerypolynomialexponentiallogarithmcalculusalgebrabooleangatecircuittransistorsiliconcomputecomputablecomputationalcomputability