rekkefølge

Rekkefølge is a Norwegian noun meaning the arrangement of items according to a rule, or the sequence in which events occur. It denotes the order of things or the timing of actions. In everyday language, it is used to describe how elements are organized, for example i riktig rekkefølge (“in the correct order”) or i stigende rekkefølge (“in increasing order”).

In mathematics and logic, rekkefølge is closely connected to the concept of a sequence. A sequence (en følge) is an ordered list of elements indexed by natural numbers. The term rekkefølge refers to the order of those elements—how they are arranged within the sequence. People discuss whether a sequence is increasing (stigende rekkefølge) or decreasing (fallende rekkefølge).

In computing and data processing, rekkefølge matters for sorting, scheduling, and processing pipelines. Data can be arranged in a specified rekkefølge, usually according to numerical value, alphabetical order, or a given comparator. The intended rekkefølge affects presentation, analysis, and results.

See also: order, sequence, sorting, increasing order, decreasing order.