PATTERN MATCHING Meaning and
Definition
-
Pattern matching is a computational technique used in programming and computer science to identify, locate, and manipulate specific patterns within data. It involves comparing and matching a given input against a predefined pattern or set of patterns, enabling the recognition of similarities or correspondences. This technique is widely employed in fields such as text processing, data mining, regular expressions, and artificial intelligence.
Pattern matching involves searching for sequences of characters, strings, or values that conform to a certain pattern. It allows for the detection of recurring patterns, which can be used for various purposes such as data validation, information extraction, and decision-making. By specifying a pattern and a target, pattern matching algorithms can identify instances where the pattern occurs in the target and return the corresponding matches.
In programming languages, pattern matching is often used in switch statements or conditional statements to determine the appropriate action based on the pattern matched. It involves the comparison of the given input against a series of patterns, and the branch of code corresponding to the matched pattern is executed.
Pattern matching can take various forms depending on the context and requirements. It can range from simple patterns such as exact string matching or numeric comparisons to more complex patterns involving regular expressions or wildcard characters. Regardless of the complexity level, the goal of pattern matching is to identify and manipulate data based on its resemblance to a predetermined pattern.
Etymology of PATTERN MATCHING
The term "pattern matching" originates from the English language.
The word "pattern" has Middle English roots, derived from the Old French word "patron", meaning "example" or "model". In turn, "patron" came from the Latin word "patronus", meaning "sponsor" or "protector".
The word "matching" comes from the Middle English word "matchen", which means "to join or unite". It may also have connections to the Old English word "gemæcca", meaning "mate" or "equal".
In computing, "pattern matching" refers to the act of searching for specific patterns or sequences within a given set of data or text. The concept of pattern matching has evolved over time, originating from early programming languages and being widely utilized in modern programming and data analysis.
