NIST

move-to-front heuristic

(algorithm)

Definition: A heuristic that moves the target of a search to the head of a list so it is found faster next time.

See also move-to-root heuristic, transpose sequential search, self-organizing list.

Note: This technique speeds up linear search performance only if the target item is likely to be searched for again soon.

Author: PEB


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Entry modified Fri Dec 17 12:05:37 2004.
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Cite this as:
Paul E. Black, "move-to-front heuristic", from Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures, Paul E. Black, ed., NIST.
http://www.nist.gov/dads/HTML/movefront.html

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