In
computer programming
Computer programming or coding is the composition of sequences of instructions, called computer program, programs, that computers can follow to perform tasks. It involves designing and implementing algorithms, step-by-step specifications of proc ...
, housekeeping can refer to either a standard entry or exit routine appended to a user-written block of code (such as a
subroutine or
function, sometimes as a
function prologue and epilogue) at its entry and exit or to any other automated or manual software process whereby a computer is ''cleaned up'' after usage (e.g. freeing resources such as
virtual memory
In computing, virtual memory, or virtual storage, is a memory management technique that provides an "idealized abstraction of the storage resources that are actually available on a given machine" which "creates the illusion to users of a ver ...
). This might include such activities as removing or archiving logs that the system has made as a result of the users activities, or deletion of temporary files which may otherwise simply take up space. Housekeeping can be described as a necessary chore, required to perform a particular computer's normal activity but not necessarily part of the
algorithm
In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm () is a finite sequence of Rigour#Mathematics, mathematically rigorous instructions, typically used to solve a class of specific Computational problem, problems or to perform a computation. Algo ...
. For cleaning up
computer disk storage, utility software usually exists for this purpose such as
data compression
In information theory, data compression, source coding, or bit-rate reduction is the process of encoding information using fewer bits than the original representation. Any particular compression is either lossy or lossless. Lossless compressi ...
software - to "shrink" files and release disk space and
defragmentation programs - to improve disk performance.
"Basic Computer Housekeeping Tips"
. Accessed July 20, 2009
Examples
Housekeeping could include (but is not limited to) the following activities:
* Saving and restoring program state for called functions (including general purpose registers and return address)
* Obtaining local memory on the stack
* Initializing local variables at the start of a program or function
* Freeing local memory on the stack on exit from a function
* Garbage collection
* Data conversion
Data conversion is the conversion of computer data from one format to another. Throughout a computer environment, data is encoded in a variety of ways. For example, computer hardware is built on the basis of certain standards, which requires ...
* Backup
In information technology, a backup, or data backup is a copy of computer data taken and stored elsewhere so that it may be used to restore the original after a data loss event. The verb form, referring to the process of doing so, is "wikt:back ...
and/or removal of un-needed files and software
Software consists of computer programs that instruct the Execution (computing), execution of a computer. Software also includes design documents and specifications.
The history of software is closely tied to the development of digital comput ...
* Execution of disk maintenance utilities (e.g. ScanDisk, hard drive defragmenters, virus scanners)
See also
* Computational overhead
References
Computer performance
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