batch processing

programming A system that takes a set (a "batch") of

commands or jobs, executes them and returns the results, all

without human intervention. This contrasts with an

interactive system where the user's commands and the

computer's responses are interleaved during a single run.

A batch system typically takes its commands from a disk file

(or a set of punched cards or magnetic tape in the old

days) and returns the results to a file (or prints them).

Often there is a queue of jobs which the system processes as

resources become available.

Since the advent of the personal computer, the term "batch"

has come to mean automating frequently performed tasks that

would otherwise be done interactively by storing those

commands in a "batch file" or "script". Usually this file

is read by some kind of command interpreter but batch

processing is sometimes used with GUI-based applications that

define script equivalents for menu selections and other mouse

actions. Such a recorded sequence of GUI actions is sometimes

called a "macro". This may only exist in memory and may not

be saved to disk whereas a batch normally implies something

stored on disk.

(1998-06-26)