overhead
1. Resources (in computing usually processing time or storage space) consumed
for purposes which are incidental to, but necessary to, the main one. Overheads
are usually quantifiable "costs" of some kind.
Examples: The overheads in running a business include the cost of heating the
building. Keeping a program running all the time eliminates the overhead of
loading and initialising it for each transaction. Turning a subroutine into
inline code eliminates the call and return time overhead for each execution but
introduces space overheads.
2. <communications> information, such as control, routing, and error
checking characters, that is transmitted along with the user data. It also
includes information such as network status or operational instructions, network
routing information, and retransmissions of user data received in error.
3. Overhead transparencies or "slides" (usually 8-1/2" x 11") that are projected
to an audience via an overhead (flatbed) projector.
(1997-09-01)
Nearby terms:
Overdrive « overflow bit « overflow pdl «
overhead » overloading » overriding » overrun
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