Sentinel
Definition
A sentinel is a special value used in programming to mark the end of data input, allowing programs to know when to stop processing.
Analogy
Think about going through your email inbox and marking important messages with a red flag. When you see this red flag, it signals that there are no more important emails left and you can stop checking your inbox.
Related terms
Variable Number of Repetitions: A variable number of repetitions refers to a loop structure where the number of iterations is determined by a condition that can change during runtime.
End-of-file (EOF): EOF is another way to mark the end of data input in programming, often used when reading files or streams.
Null Value: In some cases, null values are used as sentinels in databases or programming languages. They represent missing or unknown values and help indicate when data processing should stop.
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