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Infinite loop
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==Details== An ''infinite loop'' is a sequence of instructions in a [[computer program]] which loops endlessly, either due to the [[control flow#Loops|loop]] having no terminating condition,<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=Flow Journal |url=http://www.flowjournal.org/tag/loop-media/ |title=Codes and Modes: The Character of Documentary Culture |quote=an infinite loop is one that lacks .. an exit condition |date=November 2014 |access-date=2020-01-23 |archive-date=2020-08-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801213624/http://www.flowjournal.org/tag/loop-media/?print=print-search |url-status=live }}</ref> having one that can never be met, or one that causes the loop to start over. In older [[operating system]]s with [[cooperative multitasking]],<ref>also known as non-preemptive-multitasking: {{cite magazine |author=<!-- Unstated --> |magazine=[[PC Magazine]] |url=https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/48051/non-preemptive-multitasking |title=Non-preemptive Multitasking |access-date=February 7, 2024 |archive-date=July 26, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726232111/https://www.pcmag.com/encyclopedia/term/48051/non-preemptive-multitasking |url-status=live }}</ref> infinite loops normally caused the entire system to become unresponsive. With the now-prevalent preemptive multitasking model, infinite loops usually cause the program to consume all available processor time, but can usually be terminated by a user. [[Busy waiting|Busy wait]] loops are also sometimes called "infinite loops". Infinite loops are one possible cause for a computer [[Hang (computing)|hanging or freezing]]; others include [[Thrashing (computer science)|thrashing]], [[deadlock (computer science)|deadlock]], and [[segmentation fault|access violation]]s.
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