dancing links

noun

A technique for reverting the deletion of a node from a circular doubly-linked list, particularly useful for efficiently implementing backtracking algorithms.

Similar
DLX
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Meanings

noundancing links (uncountable)
  1. uncountablecomputerA technique for reverting the deletion of a node from a circular doubly-linked list, particularly useful for efficiently implementing backtracking algorithms.

    Synonyms: DLX

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA technique for reverting the deletion of a node from a circular doubly-linked list, particularly useful for efficiently implementing backtracking algorithms.

Similar
DLX

Origin

The name was suggested by Donald Knuth, because iterations of the algorithm cause the links to interact as if in an “exquisitely choreographed dance”.

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Cite this entry
APA

dancing links. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dancing%20links

MLA

“dancing links.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dancing%20links. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “dancing links,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/dancing%20links.

Source: dancing links on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.