4 ms·

Obscure words are very well suited to esoteric subject matter where precision is needed. A particular brand of function optimization is exactly that.

• quotemstr 9y ago
  What precise meaning does "memorize" denote that "memorize" wouldn't? Sometimes jargon is just jargon.
  • TuringTest 9y ago
    "Memoization" is only used in the context of caching results of previous function calls. So if you see the word, you instantly know that this is the context. You wouldn't know that if you see "memorization".
    • jjaredsimpson 9y ago
      Exactly. Memorization is the process of committing something to memory. Things like spaced repetition, flashcards, using mnemonics, etc. Memoization is the technique of caching expensive function calls and returning those cached values upon subsequent invocations. Seeing the word memorize implies a process that an actor is undergoing and says nothing about the data being memorized. Seeing the word memoize implies the existence of an expensive function and implies a process of repeated calls to the function. It also implies the function is pure, i.e. you can't memoize calls to fread().
      • kbenson 9y ago
        Memoization implies caching specifically, which implies its own things, such as cache size and eviction methodology. Not something that's necessarily thought of when using the term "memory". Memoization is close enough to "memorization" that you pretty much know what it is without having heard of it before and easily rememberable, while being specific enough to the actual concept as to be easily searchable and imply specific concerns of its own. That's a win-win in my book.
        • lemming 9y ago
          Sadly, the older I get the more I am aware of my memory's aggressive cache eviction policy.
          • kbenson 9y ago
            You and me both. : But that's part of it, you generally don't really associate that with memory until you get older...
  • khedoros1 9y ago
    I think of memoization in terms of memos. You're leaving memos behind to avoid recalculating, but you're going to throw them out when you have your result; it's scratch paper to refer back to your previous work. The word itself denotes the reason for storing the data. Memorization makes me think of a repetitive process of committing something permanently to memory.
• cee_el1234 9y ago
  Indeed... the way information is being organized is specific enough to be given a proper term - memorization indicates just storing things in whatever form