off-by-one error

2 definitions found

off-by-one error - Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (26 May 2007) :

  off-by-one error
  
     <programming> An exceedingly common error induced in many
     ways, such as by starting at zero when you should have started
     at one or vice-versa, or by writing "< N" instead of "<= N" or
     vice-versa.  Often confounded with fencepost error, which is
     properly a particular subtype of it.
  
     [Jargon File]
  
     (1998-09-21)
  

off-by-one error - Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) :

  off-by-one error
   n.
  
     [common] Exceedingly common error induced in many ways, such as by
     starting at 0 when you should have started at 1 or vice-versa, or by
     writing < N instead of <= N or vice-versa. Also applied to giving
     something to the person next to the one who should have gotten it.
     Often confounded with fencepost error, which is properly a
     particular subtype of it.