| n. | 1. | (Computers) A technique in automated data analysis, usually performed on a computer, by which a group of characteristic properties of an unknown object is compared with the comparable groups of characteristics of a set of known objects, to discover the idenity or proper classification of the unknown object. |
| 1. | pattern matching - A function is defined to take arguments of a particular
type, form or value. When applying the function to its actual
arguments it is necessary to match the type, form or value of
the actual arguments against the formal arguments in some
definition. For example, the function length [] = 0 length (x:xs) = 1 + length xs uses pattern matching in its argument to distinguish a null list from a non-null one. There are well known algorithm for translating pattern matching into conditional expressions such as "if" or "case". E.g. the above function could be transformed to length l = case l of [] -> 0 x:xs -> 1 : length xs Pattern matching is usually performed in textual order though there are languages which match more specific patterns before less specific ones. | ||
| 2. | pattern matching - Descriptive of a type of language or utility such as awk or Perl which is suited to searching for strings or patterns in input data, usually using some kind of regular expression. |