NIST

asymptotic time complexity

(definition)

Definition: The limiting behavior of the execution time of an algorithm when the size of the problem goes to infinity. This is usually denoted in big-O notation.

See also asymptotic space complexity.

Note: From Algorithms and Theory of Computation Handbook, page 19-26, Copyright © 1999 by CRC Press LLC. Appearing in the Dictionary of Computer Science, Engineering and Technology, Copyright © 2000 CRC Press LLC.

Author: CRC-A


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Entry modified 17 December 2004.
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Cite this as:
Algorithms and Theory of Computation Handbook, CRC Press LLC, 1999, "asymptotic time complexity", in Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures [online], Paul E. Black, ed. 17 December 2004. (accessed TODAY) Available from: https://www.nist.gov/dads/HTML/asymptoticTimeComplexity.html