scalar

1. mathematics A single number, as opposed to a vector or

matrix of numbers. Thus, for example, "scalar

multiplication" refers to the operation of multiplying one

number (one scalar) by another and is used to contrast this

with "matrix multiplication" etc.

2. architecture In a parallel processor or vectorprocessor, the "scalar processor" handles all the sequential

operations - those which cannot be parallelised or vectorised.

See also superscalar.

3. programming Any data type that stores a single value

(e.g. a number or Boolean), as opposed to an aggregate

data type that has many elements. A string is regarded as a

scalar in some languages (e.g. Perl) and a vector of

characters in others (e.g. C).

(2002-06-12)