peephole optimization

noun

An optimization that works by eliminating redundant instructions from a small area of source code.

“The loop was more than twice as fast after I had applied peephole optimization.”

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Meanings

nounpeephole optimization (countable and uncountable, plural peephole optimizations)

plural peephole optimizations

  1. countableuncountablecomputingAn optimization that works by eliminating redundant instructions from a small area of source code.

    The loop was more than twice as fast after I had applied peephole optimization.

    1 more example

    The method of peephole optimization was described by McKeeman (1965). A simple code generator is replaced by one where short instruction sequences are replaced by ones which are shorter or faster.

    1979, P. J. Brown, editor, Software Portability: An Advanced Course, Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 149

Origin

Coined by computer scientist William Marshall McKeeman in 1965, from peephole + optimization.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

peephole optimization. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/peephole%20optimization

MLA

“peephole optimization.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/peephole%20optimization. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “peephole optimization,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/peephole%20optimization.

Source: peephole optimization on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.