periodfull

Periodfull is a neologism that appears in some online glossaries and niche technical discussions to describe a state in a cyclic process where the entire period is realized before repetition occurs. It is not a standardized term, and its exact meaning can vary by field or community.

In mathematics and computer science, periodfull is often used informally to refer to a sequence or generator that attains the maximum possible period for its size. For example, a linear feedback shift register (LFSR) or a pseudorandom number generator may be described as periodfull when the generated sequence has a full, maximal period. For an n-bit LFSR, the maximal period is typically 2^n − 1 when the feedback taps form a primitive polynomial, and some discussions use periodfull to denote that maximal-period property.

In other contexts, periodfull may be used more generally to describe data, events, or processes that fully cover a repeating cycle, ensuring that a complete cycle is observed before the sequence repeats. This usage is informal and not standardized, and it may be encountered only in casual or exploratory discussions rather than formal literature.

Etymology and usage notes: the term combines period and full and reflects a casual shorthand for “having the full period.” Because it lacks formal definition, readers should rely on context to determine its intended meaning in a given discussion. See also: full period, maximal period, primitive polynomial, LFSR, cyclic sequences.