Iterator

/ˈɪtəˌreɪtər/ noun

Definition

In computing, a tool or object that lets you go through items in a collection one at a time. It controls the order and remembers where you are in the sequence.

Etymology

Formed in English from “iterate” plus the agent noun ending “-or,” meaning “one that does.” It grew out of mathematical and computing uses of “iteration” to name the thing that performs or manages the repeating steps.

Kelly Says

An iterator is like a bookmark that also knows how to turn the page for you. In many programming languages you never see it directly—“for” loops secretly use iterators under the hood. So a lot of your favorite software is powered by invisible little “next, next, next” machines.

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