Loopordning

Loopordning is a concept used in programming and systems engineering to describe how loops are organized and executed within a system. In programming, loopordning refers to the sequencing of nested loops and the order in which indices are iterated. The choice of loop order can affect data locality and performance, particularly for multi-dimensional arrays. For example, when iterating over a two-dimensional array, choosing the outer loop to correspond to one dimension and the inner loop to the other impacts cache utilization depending on whether the array is stored in row-major or column-major order.

In control and systems engineering, loopordning can refer to the arrangement of feedback loops in a system. The order and placement of loops influence stability, responsiveness, and robustness. Designers may use hierarchical loop structures to separate fast inner loops from slower outer loops, or to decouple subsystems. Proper loop ordering improves predictability and reduces coupling between components.

Historically, the term appears in Nordic technical literature as a translation of “loop order” or “order of loops” and is used to discuss optimization and design choices in code, hardware, and processes. The concept is general and emphasizes how the sequence and layering of loops shapes behavior rather than a single fixed definition.