Editing Periodic function (section)

{{Short description|Function that repeats its values at regular intervals or periods}}
{{Distinguish|periodic mapping}}
{{Redirect-distinguish|Period length|repeating decimal}}
{{Redirect2|Aperiodic|Non-periodic}}
[[Image:Periodic function illustration.svg|thumb|right|300px|An illustration of a periodic function with period <math>P.</math>]]

A '''periodic function''', also called a '''periodic waveform''' (or simply '''periodic wave'''), is a [[Function (mathematics)|function]] that repeats its values at regular intervals or [[period (physics)|periods]]. The repeatable part of the function or [[waveform]] is called a '''''cycle'''''.<ref name="IEC">{{cite web |title=IEC 60050 — Details for IEV number 103-05-08: "cycle" |url=https://www.electropedia.org/iev/iev.nsf/display?openform&ievref=103-05-08 |access-date=2023-11-20 |website=International Electrotechnical Vocabulary |language=}}</ref> For example, the [[trigonometric functions]], which repeat at intervals of <math>2\pi</math> [[radian]]s, are periodic functions. Periodic functions are used throughout science to describe [[oscillation]]s, [[wave]]s, and other phenomena that exhibit [[Frequency|periodicity]]. Any function that is not periodic is called '''''aperiodic'''''.