renumber

Renumber is the process of assigning new numbers to items in a sequence. It is used to restore or enforce a consistent ordering, fill gaps created by insertions or deletions, and align numbering with a standard or convention.

In publishing and documentation, renumbering typically applies to pages, figures, tables, and other labeled elements. In mathematics and computing, renumbering may involve reindexing variables, array elements, or labels to reflect a reorganization or simplification of notation. In data management and databases, renumbering can refer to relabeling identifiers, often requiring updates to references or foreign keys.

Renumbering is usually performed with automated tools or editor features that recalculate numbers and update cross-references. Word processors and typesetters offer caption and numbering updates; programming environments may provide commands to renumber labeled statements or blocks. When renumbering IDs in a dataset, care must be taken to preserve referential integrity, typically via a mapping from old to new IDs and cascading updates.

Common examples include reordering figures in a report and renumbering pages after inserting new sections, or assigning a consecutive set of IDs starting from a defined base. Downtime and data consistency should be considered, and backups or transactional updates are recommended to prevent loss of links.