geloopte

Geloopte is a term used in theoretical discussions of recursion and self-reference to denote a looped, self-referential process within a system such as a formal grammar, a computational model, or a cognitive framework. The concept is not tied to a single established theory and is used mainly in speculative or pedagogical contexts to illustrate fixed points, feedback, and self-embedding phenomena.

The word appears to derive from the Dutch ge- prefix combined with loop, conveying the sense of “looped” or “made into a loop.”

A geloopte configuration features a transformation whose output is fed back as input to itself, forming a closed cycle. Depending on the rules, the cycle may converge to a stable state, oscillate among states, or diverge. In formal language theory and related fields, geloopte structures are used to discuss the boundary between fixed-point behavior and more complex self-reference, including how constraints affect convergence.

An elementary example is a rule that replaces a symbol A with AA, with a terminating condition after n iterations, producing a finite geloopte sequence.

The term is used mainly in education and exploratory discussions and has not become a standardized term in major journals.