Nota: La traducción de esta entrada está actualmente en revisión de calidad, por lo que parte del contenido se muestra temporalmente solo en inglés.
Esta entrada aún no se ha traducido a tu idioma, así que se muestra el original a continuación.
backtracking
This term describes a reversal of direction, whether physical, intellectual, or computational. When used physically, it implies a literal return along a previous path to correct a mistake or find a lost item. In a social or political context, it carries a negative connotation of inconsistency or weakness, suggesting that someone is retreating from a commitment because of pressure or a change in circumstances.
In computer science, the term refers to a specific algorithmic strategy. Unlike the social sense, which implies failure or instability, the computational sense describes a systematic and efficient method of problem-solving through trial and error. As a noun, it is typically uncountable when referring to the general process or algorithm, but can be countable when referring to specific instances of retraction.
Meanings
The act of retracting a statement, opinion, or commitment, often to avoid conflict or admit an error.
A computational algorithm that searches for a solution by exploring all possible paths and abandoning a path as soon as it is determined that it cannot lead to a valid solution.
Examples
I realized I forgot my keys and started backtracking through the woods.
Wait, I am backtracking on what I said earlier about the budget.
The program uses a backtracking algorithm to solve the Sudoku puzzle.
I should stop backtracking and just admit I was wrong.
He spent an hour backtracking along the shoreline to find his lost shoe.
The detective began backtracking the suspect's movements from the crime scene.
Is she really backtracking on her promise to help us move next week?
The AI is currently backtracking after hitting a dead end in the search tree.