Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

subsequence

noun

/ˈsəbsɪkwəns/

Definition

A sequence derived from another sequence by deleting some elements without changing the order of the remaining elements.

Examples

In the sequence 1, 2, 3, 4, the numbers 2 and 4 form a subsequence.
The letters A, C, and E form a subsequence in the string A, B, C, D, E.
Finding the longest subsequence of a sequence is a common problem in computer science.

Meaning

In mathematics and computer science, a subsequence refers to a new sequence formed from a given sequence by removing some elements without rearranging the order of the remaining elements. It is important in various fields such as programming, data structures, and combinatorics.