sequential

This term describes a strict, linear progression where one element must follow another without skipping or overlapping. It carries a technical, precise connotation often associated with computer science, mathematics, or formal procedures. It suggests a predictable chain of events where the position of an item is determined by what came immediately before it. In contrast to simultaneous or parallel processes, sequential actions occur one after another. While similar to chronological, sequential is broader and can apply to non-time-based arrangements, such as a series of numbers or the steps in a recipe, emphasizing the order of arrangement rather than just the timing.