Editing Infinite loop (section)

{{Short description|Programming idiom}}
{{About-distinguish|the programming term|Infinite Loop (street)|Infinite Loop (book)}}
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In [[computer programming]], an '''infinite loop''' (or '''endless loop''')<ref>{{cite web
 |url=https://www.yourdictionary.com/endless-loop
 |title=Endless loop dictionary definition
 |access-date=2020-01-22
 |archive-date=2020-08-01
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801213748/https://www.yourdictionary.com/endless-loop
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 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web
 |url=https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/infinite-loop-endless-loop
 |title=What is infinite loop (endless loop)
 |access-date=2020-01-22
 |archive-date=2019-07-15
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190715101446/https://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/infinite-loop-endless-loop
 |url-status=live
 }}</ref> is a sequence of instructions that, as written, will continue endlessly, unless an external intervention occurs, such as turning off power via a switch or pulling a plug. It may be intentional.

There is no general algorithm to determine whether a computer program contains an infinite loop or not; this is the [[halting problem]].