LCS

LCS is an acronym that can refer to several distinct concepts in different fields, including computer science, competitive gaming, and the military. The specific meaning is usually inferred from context.

Longest common subsequence: In computer science, LCS stands for the longest common subsequence of two sequences. A subsequence preserves the relative order of elements but may skip others. For example, the LCS of "AGGTAB" and "GXTXAYB" is "GTAB" with length four. The LCS problem underpins diff tools and sequence alignment in bioinformatics. It is commonly solved with dynamic programming in O(mn) time, with space optimization possible to O(min(m,n)). Variants include related problems like the longest common substring, which requires consecutive characters.

League Championship Series: In professional esports, LCS typically refers to the League Championship Series, the top-level League of Legends competition in a region. The North American LCS (NA LCS) is the premier circuit in the United States and Canada, traditionally featuring spring and summer splits and a postseason to determine qualification for the World Championship. The European counterpart was rebranded as the League of Legends European Championship (LEC) in 2019, while the NA league continues to compete as the LCS. The league serves as a primary pathway for teams aspiring to compete on the world stage.

Littoral Combat Ship: In U.S. naval terminology, LCS denotes the Littoral Combat Ship, a class of small surface combatants designed for near-shore operations. LCS vessels emphasize speed and modular mission packages that can be swapped to address different missions, including surface warfare, mine countermeasures, and anti-submarine warfare. Two main design families exist: Freedom-class and Independence-class, produced by different shipyards. The program has faced debates over cost, survivability, and the effectiveness of its modular approach.