Schritweise

Schritweise (from Schritt 'step' + -weise 'way, manner') is a German adverb or noun phrase meaning "in steps" or "stepwise." It describes processes, analyses, or instructions that proceed through discrete stages rather than in a continuous flow. In standard usage the term appears in contexts such as stepwise procedures, stepwise approaches, or stepwise demonstrations.

In mathematics, computer science, and engineering, "schrittweise" is used to characterize incremental methods, e.g., "schrittweise Annäherung" (stepwise approximation), "schrittweise Ausführung" or "schrittweise Verfeinerung" (stepwise refinement). In education and everyday language, "eine schrittweise Anleitung" denotes a guided, step-by-step set of instructions.

In medicine, pharmacy, and dosing, "schrittweise" is used in phrases like "schrittweise Dosiserhöhung" to describe gradual increases. In statistics, while not a formal technique named "Schritweise," German-language texts frequently translate "stepwise" as "schrittweise" in descriptions of sequential variable selection or model fitting (e.g., "schrittweise Regression").

The term does not designate a single, standalone theory; rather it serves as a flexible descriptor across disciplines for methods, procedures, or progress made in distinct stages. Its usage supports clear, pedagogical, or procedural communication by emphasizing progression and incremental development.

See also: stepwise, sequential, iterative, progressive.