Iteraten

Iteraten is a Dutch verb that appears in some texts as the act of performing iterations or repeating steps in a process. In standard Dutch, the common verb for this concept is itereren, and the related noun is iteratie. The form iteraten is uncommon and often considered a nonstandard or dialectal variant; in formal writing it is typically corrected to itereren or replaced by phrases such as een iteratie uitvoeren.

The core idea behind iteratie is repetition with variation or refinement. An iteration comprises applying a procedure again, usually using results from the previous step to move toward a desired outcome or improved accuracy. In mathematics and numerical analysis, iterative methods generate sequences that converge to a solution, for example by defining x_{n+1} = f(x_n). In computer science, iteration is implemented through loops that repeatedly execute a block of code until a condition is met.

Common domains of iteration include solving equations, optimization, and simulations. Iterative algorithms are valued for their ability to handle large or complex problems, often trading upfront cost for gradual refinement and flexibility. Convergence criteria, stopping conditions, and error estimates are key concepts in designing and evaluating iterative procedures.

In Dutch language usage, it is advisable to prefer itereren for the verb and iteratie for the noun. Iteraten may appear in older texts, informal writing, or as a mistaken form, but it is not standard terminology in most contemporary technical contexts.

See also: iteratie, itereren, iteration (in English).