off-by-one error

English

Pronunciation

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Noun

off-by-one error (plural off-by-one errors)

1. (programming) A logic error where a value, typically the number of iterations of a loop, is specified incorrectly, being either 1 less or 1 more than it should be.

   Synonyms: off-by-one bug, OBOE, OBO

   • 2005, Harvey M. Deitel, Paul J. Deitel, C# for Programmers, second edition, Prentice Hall Professional, →ISBN, page 164:

     Using an incorrect relational operator or an incorrect final value of a loop counter in the loop-continuation condition of a repetition statement causes an off-by-one error.

See also

• fencepost problem