sequencethrough

Sequencethrough is a term used in computer science to describe a pattern and set of techniques for processing a sequence of items in a single forward pass while preserving item order and producing results online. In a sequencethrough system, input data are consumed as they arrive, and intermediate state is carried forward through the computation so that outputs can be produced without revisiting earlier items. The concept emphasizes low latency, bounded memory usage, and determinism in the handling of in-sequence data.

The term has appeared in discussions of streaming and online algorithms, particularly in contexts where a pipeline must operate with minimal buffering and predictable performance. It is not tied to a single formal model, but rather serves as a design principle across several domains, including data processing frameworks, text processing, and genomic data workflows.

Key characteristics include one-pass processing, strict in-order output, and carrying state through the sequence, with the ability to terminate early when a condition is met. Sequencethrough implementations often employ windowing, finite-state machines, or streaming operators to maintain efficiency, and they may prioritize determinism and fault tolerance in distributed settings, sometimes at the expense of global optimization.

It is suitable for real-time analytics, log processing, event streams, and pipeline stages where re-reading data is undesirable. The approach complements multi-pass and batch processing by enabling fast feedback loops and simpler backpressure handling.

Related topics include streaming algorithms, online algorithms, single-pass processing, and data pipelines.