(algorithm)
Definition: An algorithm that is efficient when accessing most of the data is very slow, such as, on disk.
See also external sort, external memory data structure.
Note: See [Vitt01]. The external memory could be magnetic tape or even main memory if the cache is very fast.
Author: PEB
If you have suggestions, corrections, or comments, please get in touch with Paul E. Black.
Entry modified Fri Dec 17 11:50:14 2004.
HTML page formatted Wed Oct 26 09:47:30 2005.
Cite this as:
Paul E. Black, "external memory algorithm", from
Dictionary of Algorithms and Data
Structures, Paul E. Black, ed.,
NIST.
http://www.nist.gov/dads/HTML/externalMemoryAlgo.html
