the literature

1 definition found

the literature - Jargon File (4.4.4, 14 Aug 2003) :

  the literature
   n.
  
     Computer-science journals and other publications, vaguely gestured at
     to answer a question that the speaker believes is trivial. Thus,
  one
     might answer an annoying question by saying "It's in the literature."
     Oppose Knuth, which has no connotation of triviality.