computation n
1. the procedure of calculating; determining something by mathematical or logical methods [syn: calculation, computing]
2. problem solving that involves numbers or quantities [syn: calculation, figuring, reckoning]

Computation \Com`pu*ta"tion\, n. [L. computatio: cf. F. computation.]
1. The act or process of computing; calculation; reckoning. By just computation of the time. --Shak. By a computation backward from ourselves. --Bacon.
2. The result of computation; the amount computed. Syn: Reckoning; calculation; estimate; account.

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Computation is a general term for any type of process, algorithm or measurement; this often includes but is not limited to digital data. This includes phenomena ranging from human thinking to calculations with a more narrow meaning. Computation is a process following a well-defined model that is understood and can be expressed in an algorithm, protocol, network topology, etc. Computation is also a major subject matter of computer science: it investigates what can or cannot be done in a computational manner.

Computation can be classified by at least three orthogonal criteria: digital vs analog, sequential vs parallel vs concurrent, batch vs interactive.

In practice, digital computation is often used to simulate natural processes (for example, Evolutionary computation), including those that are more naturally described by analog models of computation (for example, Artificial neural network). In this situation, it is important to distinguish between the mechanism of computation and the simulated model.

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