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lookahead

7.5

Thinking about possible future moves to decide which action is best

noun
/ˈlʊkəˌhɛd/

Specialized

: lookahead

The chess program uses lookahead to evaluate the consequences of each possible move.

Examples

In computer science, lookahead is essential for optimizing decision-making algorithms.
A quick lookahead can save time.
Effective lookahead can help a company anticipate market changes and stay competitive.
Don't forget to lookahead!
The chess program uses lookahead to evaluate the consequences of each possible move.
Effective lookahead can help a company anticipate market changes and stay competitive.
In computer science, lookahead is essential for optimizing decision-making algorithms.

Synonyms

calculation

vslookahead

47 3.5

Careful planning of actions to get a particular result

focuses on simulating future states rather than broad planning

feedforward

vslookahead

Specialized

8.4

A process that uses information about expected events to guide actions before they happen

simulates possible future states to guide decisions in algorithms or games

prospection

vslookahead

Specialized

8.3

To imagine and plan for the future

focuses on simulating specific future moves for decision making in algorithms

Surface Forms

lookahead singular

lookaheads plural

Morphology

lookahead = look (transparent) = ahead + look

In algorithmic/game contexts, the term straightforwardly means 'examining future states', a direct compound of 'look' + 'ahead'. [Postprocessing: moved 'ahead' from base_words to prefix]

Etymology

Lookahead comes from the words look and ahead, meaning 'look forward'. In games and algorithms a lookahead is trying possible future moves in your mind or in a program to see the result, which is why the word describes this forward planning step.