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In `F33f`_`[computer science`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Computer_science]`_`f, a `!sequential algorithm`! or `!serial algorithm`! is an `F33f`_`[algorithm`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Algorithm]`_`f that is executed sequentially – once through, from start to finish, without other processing executing – as opposed to `F33f`_`[concurrently`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Concurrent_computing]`_`f or in `F33f`_`[parallel`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Parallel_computing]`_`f. The term is primarily used to contrast with `*`F33f`_`[concurrent algorithm`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Concurrent_algorithm]`_`f`* or `*`F33f`_`[parallel algorithm`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Parallel_algorithm]`_`f;`* most standard computer algorithms are sequential algorithms, and not specifically identified as such, as sequentialness is a background assumption. Concurrency and parallelism are in general distinct concepts, but they often overlap – many `F33f`_`[distributed algorithms`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Distributed_algorithm]`_`f are both concurrent and parallel – and thus "sequential" is used to contrast with both, without distinguishing which one. If these need to be distinguished, the opposing pairs sequential/concurrent and serial/parallel may be used.

"Sequential algorithm" may also refer specifically to an algorithm for decoding a `F33f`_`[convolutional code`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Convolutional_code]`_`f.`:cite-ref-1[`F5bf`_`[1`#cite-note-1]`_`f]

>>Contents

• `F0af`_`[See also`#see-also]`_`f

• `F0af`_`[References`#references]`_`f

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>>See also

• `F33f`_`[Online algorithm`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Online_algorithm]`_`f

• `F33f`_`[Streaming algorithm`:/page/wikibook/entry.mu`zim=wikipedia_en_all_nopic_2025-08.zim|entry_path=Streaming_algorithm]`_`f

>>References

`:cite-note-1`!1.`! `F0af`_`[↑`#cite-ref-1]`_`f "A Dictionary of Computing at Encyclopedia.com".

`c`F0af`_`[↑ Back to top`#top]`_`f`a