discrete

Intermediate 💻 Tech / IT

Definition

Separate, distinct, and countable—like your fingers or the number of times you've checked email today. Not to be confused with 'discreet' (being subtle), though spell-check loves making that mistake for you. In tech and math, it refers to individual units rather than continuous flows, like counting pixels instead of measuring light.

Example Usage

The system processes data in discrete packets rather than continuous streams, kind of like eating M&Ms one at a time instead of just pouring them into your mouth.

Source: Technical and mathematical terminology

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