An infinite loop (also known as an endless loop or unproductive loop) is a sequence of instructions in a computer program which loops endlessly, either due to the loop having no terminating condition, having one that can never be met, or one that causes the loop to start over. In older operating systems with cooperative multitasking, infinite loops normally caused the entire system to become unresponsive. With the now-prevalent preemptive multitasking model, infinite loops usually cause the program to consume all available processor time, but can usually be terminated by the user. Busy-wait loops are also sometimes called "infinite loops". One possible cause of a computer "freezing" is an infinite loop; others include deadlock and access violations.
Read more about Infinite Loop: Intended Vs Unintended Looping, Multi-party Loops
Famous quotes containing the word infinite:
“The consciousness in each man is a sliding scale, which identifies him now with the First Cause, and now with the flesh of his body; life above life, in infinite degrees.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)