Rooted at 02:19, 19 December 2022

2022-12-19T02:19:39Z

Rooted: Created page with "The Sudoku community has developed its own terminology. Most of the basic terms are now widely accepted, but some concepts are known by many different names. Here is an alphab..."

2020-05-31T04:30:43Z

Created page with "The Sudoku community has developed its own terminology. Most of the basic terms are now widely accepted, but some concepts are known by many different names. Here is an alphab..."

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The Sudoku community has developed its own terminology. Most of the basic terms are now widely accepted, but some concepts are known by many different names. Here is an alphabetic list of the most commonly used terms.
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== 0-9 ==
; [[3D Medusa]]
: A [[coloring]] technique for multiple digits.

; [[45 rule]]
: A rule stating that the sum of the cells in a [[house]] must be 45. This is most applicable to [[Killer]] Sudoku.

== A ==
; [[Advanced Coloring]]
: An alias used for [[3D Medusa]].

; [[AIC]]
: An acronym used for [[Alternating Inference Chain]].

; [[Aligned Pair Exclusion]]
: A solving technique that examines the possible configurations for a pair of cells in an intersection.

; [[Aligned Triple Exclusion]]
: A solving technique that examines the possible configurations for a triple of cells in an intersection.

; [[Almost Locked Set]]
: A set of '''N''' cells with candidates for '''N+1''' digits.

; [[ALS]]
: An acronym used for [[Almost Locked Set]].

; Alternating Inference
: ''See:'' [[Inference]]

; [[Alternating Inference Chain]]
: A [[chain]] with alternating strong and weak [[inference]].

; [[APE]]
: An acronym used for [[Aligned Pair Exclusion]].

; [[Ariadne's Thread]]
: A metaphore used for [[backtrack]]ing.

; [[ATE]]
: An acronym used for [[Aligned Triple Exclusion]].

== B ==
; [[B/B Plot]]
: A diagram showing [[strong link]]s.

; [[Backdoor]]
: Placement of a digit from the solution into a cell which reduces the difficulty level of the remaining puzzle.

; [[Backtrack]]ing
: Return to an earlier position in the solving path, after a contradiction or a dead end has been reached.

; [[Band]]
: An alias used for [[floor]].

; [[Bifurcation]]
: A limited form of [[Trial & Error]] where only constraints with 2 remaining candidates are considered.

; Big Number
: Collective term for [[given]] and placed digits, as opposed to '''little number''' for [[pencilmark]]s.

; [[Bilocal]] Unit
: A unit constraint with only 2 candidates left.

; [[Bivalue]] Cell
: A cell with only 2 candidates left.

; [[Bivalue Universal Grave]]
: A pattern in which all cells have 2 candidates, which causes the Sudoku to have 0 or 2 solutions.

; [[Block]]
: An alias used for [[box]].

; Block-Block Interaction
: An alias used for [[Locked Candidates]] type 2.

; [[Bowman Bingo]]
: A solving technique that does a systematic analysis of all implications for a move.

; [[Box]]
: A group of 9 cells in a 3x3 formation. In a Sudoku grid, boxes usually have a thicker border.

; [[Box-Line Reduction]]
: An alias used for [[Locked Candidates]] type 2.

; [[Boxcol]]
: The intersection of a box and a column.

; [[Boxrow]]
: The intersection of a box and a row.

; [[Braid Analysis]] | [[Braiding]]
: A solving technique that analyzes the way digits are organized in a [[chute]].

; [[Bridge]]
: A weak link that connects 2 clusters in a [[coloring]] technique.

; [[Broken Wing]] + [[Guardian]]s
: A solving technique that uses [[Turbot Fish]] patterns and Guardians to make eliminations.

; [[Buddy]]
: An alias used for [[peer]].

; [[BUG]]
: An acronym used for [[Bivalue Universal Grave]].

; [[BUG Lite]]
: A [[deadly pattern]] that is between [[Unique Rectangle]] and [[BUG]].

== C ==
; [[Cage]]
: Isolated part of the grid in a [[Killer]] Sudoku, with the sum of all caged cells in the top left corner.

; [[Candidate]]
: A possible digit that may be placed into a cell. Candidates are represented by [[pencilmark]]s.

; [[Canonical Form]]
: A standard form of presentation which will identify if two puzzles are [[scramble]]d duplicates.

; [[Cell]]
: A small square in a Sudoku grid that can contain a single digit.

; [[Cell Set]]
: An alias used for [[house]].

; [[Chain]]
: A series of linked cells or candidates.

; [[Chute]]
: A part of the grid which is either a [[floor]] or a [[tower]].

; [[Claiming]]
: An alias used for [[Locked Candidates]] type 2.

; [[Clue]]
: An alias used for [[given]].

; [[Cluster]]
: A group of candidates which are all interconnected with strong links. Used in [[Coloring]].

; [[Color Trap]]
: A coloring technique that eliminates candidates outside a single cluster.

; [[Color Wing]]
: A coloring technique that eliminates candidates using multiple clusters.

; [[Color Wrap]]
: A coloring technique that eliminates candidates inside a single cluster, by means of contradiction.

; [[Coloring]]
: A solving technique that uses colors to identify conjugate pairs.

; [[Column]]
: A vertical line in the grid, containing 9 cells.

; [[Common Peer Elimination]]
: If all cells in a particular constraint contains a particular digit as a candidate sees another cell, then that digit can be eliminated from the latter cell. This is a basic technique used in [[Sudoku Variations]] with irregular groups of cells.

; [[Conflict]]
: An alias used for [[contradiction]].

; [[Conjugate pair]]
: The last 2 candidates for a particular digit in a single house. Used in [[Coloring]].

; [[Connected pair]]
: A pair of candidates which cannot both be false at the same time.

; [[Constraint]]
: A restriction derived from the rule. Sometimes used as an alias for [[house]].

; [[Contradiction]]
: The state of the grid in which the puzzle no longer complies with the rule.

; [[Cross-Hatching]]
: A method by which hidden singles can be found.

; [[Crossover]]
: A basic technique for [[Sudoku-X]], which looks at eliminating common peers of diagonal cells.

== D ==
; [[Deadly Pattern]]
: A pattern that would cause a Sudoku to have multiple solutions.
: ''See also:'' [[Unavoidable Set]]

; [[Diagonal]]
: A group of 9 diagonally connected cells. In [[Sudoku-X]] and other variants, the diagonals must also contain digits 1 through 9.

; [[DIC]]
: An acronym used for [[Double Implication Chain]].

; [[Digit]]
: A number between 1 and 9 which can be placed into a cell.

; [[Disjoint Subset]]
: An alias used for [[subset]].

; [[Division]]
: A method by which the cells in the grid are divided into 9 houses. All rows together form a division and so do all columns and all boxes.

; [[Double Implication Chain]]
: A chain that propagates implications in both directions.

== E ==
; [[Eliminate]]
: Removing a candidate from the grid.

; [[Empty Rectangle]]
: A solving technique that uses a strong link and grouped candidates.

; [[Equivalence Marks]]
: A solving technique that uses marks to represent [[parity]] instead of colors.
: ''See also:'' [[GEM]] | [[Graded Equivalence Marks]]

; [[Equivalent]]
: A term which indicates that a group of candidates must be true or false together.

; [[ER]]
: The acronym for [[Empty Rectangle]].

; [[Error]]
: An alias used for [[contradiction]].

; [[Eureka]] | Eureka notation
: A notation system for chains and loops.

== F ==
; Fillet-O-Fish
: ''See:'' [[Finned Fish]]

; [[Fin]]
: The additional candidate(s) in the box constraint that belongs to a [[Finned Fish]]

; [[Finned Fish]]
: A variety of [[fish]] that uses an additional box constraint.

; [[Fish]]
: A set of solving techniques that compares sets of unit constraints for a single digit.

; [[Fishy Cycle]]
: A loop formed by candidates for a singe digit.
: ''See also:'' [[Turbot Fish]]

; [[Fixed Digit]] | Number | Value
: An alias used for [[given]].

; [[Floor]]
: A part of the grid containing 3 rows and 3 boxes.

; [[Forced Digit]]
: An alias used for [[Naked Single]].

; [[45 rule]]
: A solving technique in [[Killer|Killer Sudoku]] making use of the knowledge that the digits in each house add to 45.

; [[Franken Fish]]
: A variety of [[fish]] that uses multiple additional box constraints.

; [[Full House]]
: A house with only a single empty cell.

== G ==
; [[Gattai]]
: A puzzle with 2 or more overlapping Sudokus.

; [[GEM]]
: An acronym used for [[Graded Equivalence Marks]]

; [[Given]] | Given Digit | Given Number
: A digit placed in a cell by the puzzle setter. It cannot be changed by the player.

; [[Graded Equivalence Marks]]
: A solving technique that uses marks in the [[pencilmark]] grid to represent different grades of parity.
: ''See also:'' [[Equivalence Marks]]

; [[Grid]]
: 81 cells organized in 9 rows and 9 columns.

; [[Group]]
: An alias used for [[house]].

; [[Guardian]]
: ''See:'' [[Broken Wing]]

; [[Guess]]
: A digit placed into a cell without a logical reason.

== H ==
; [[Hatch]]ing
: An alias used for [[Cross-Hatching]].

; [[Hidden Single]]
: A unit constraint with only a single candidate remaining. The digit can be placed in the candidate's cell.

; [[Hidden Subset]] - [[Hidden Pair]] | [[Hidden Triple]] | [[Hidden Quad]]
: A solving technique that isolates a group of cells and digits from the remainder of a house.

; [[Hinge]]
: An alias used for [[Empty Rectangle]].

; [[Hint]]
: An alias used for [[given]].

; [[House]]
: A group of 9 cells that must contain digits 1 through 9. A house can be a row, a column or a box in standard Sudoku.

== I ==
; [[Implication]]
: Effect on a candidate caused by the true or false state of another candidate.

; [[Inference]]
: Interaction between the true or false states of 2 linked candidates.

; [[Initial Digit]] | Number | Value
: An alias used for [[given]].

; [[Innie]]
: In [[Killer]] Sudoku, a [[cell]] that does not belong to any of the selected [[cage]]s, but lies inside the tested [[house]](s).

; [[Innie-outie difference]]
: In [[Killer]] Sudoku, the difference between the [[innie]]s and [[outie]]s may be used to [[eliminate]] candidates.

; [[Intersection]]
: A part of the grid where 2 houses share one or more cells. Mostly used for intersections between a box and a row or column.

; [[Intersection Removal]]
: An alias used for [[Locked Candidates]].

; [[Invalid]]
: A [[Sudoku]] is ''invalid'' if it has no solutions or multiple solutions.

== J ==
; [[Jellyfish]]
: A [[fish]] of size 4.

; [[Jigsaw]]
: A Sudoku variant that has irregularly shaped regions.

== K ==
; [[K9]]
: A way to reference [[Sudoku]] [[cell]]s, by using a letter for the [[row]] and a number for the [[column]].

; [[Killer]] | Killer Sudoku
: A Sudoku variant where givens are replaced by cages labeled with the sum of the digits to be placed inside them.

; [[Killer Convention]]
: In [[Killer]] Sudoku, the convention that all digits in each [[cage]] is distinct.

; [[Killer Subset]]
: An extension of the [[Subset]] technique that is applicable to [[Killer]] puzzles.

; [[Kraken Fish]]
: A [[fish]] pattern with indirect connections to a candidate which can be eliminated.

== L ==
; [[Last Digit]]
: The last placement of a digit.

; [[Law of Leftovers]]
: A solving technique used for [[jigsaw]] Sudokus.

; [[Line]]
: A house that is either a row or a column.

; [[Line-Box Interaction]]
: An alias used for [[Locked Candidates]].

; [[Link]]
: Connection between 2 cells or candidates. ''See also:'' [[Strong link]] ''and'' [[Weak link]].

; [[Little Number]]
: An alias used for [[pencilmark]].

; [[Locked Candidates]]
: A solving technique that uses the intersections between lines and boxes.

; [[Locked Pair]]
: A [[Naked Pair]] located in a single [[intersection]].

; [[Locked Triple]]
: A [[Naked Triple]] located in a single [[intersection]].

; [[Locked Set]]
: An alias used for [[subset]].

; [[LoL]]
: An acronym used for [[Law of Leftovers]]

; [[Loop]]
: A loop of linked cells or candidates.

== M ==
; [[Magic Cell]]
: An alias used for [[backdoor]].

; [[Mark]] | Markup
: An alias used for [[pencilmark]]. Also the act of placing them in the grid.

; [[Mathematically equivalent]]
: Puzzles which are essentially the same. By permutating rows, columns and digits, one can be mapped to the other.

; [[MC]]
: An acronym used for [[Multi-Colors]]

; [[Mini-col]]
: An alias used for [[boxcol]].

; [[Mini-row]]
: An alias used for [[boxrow]].

; [[Multi-Colors]]
: A [[coloring]] technique that uses more than 2 colors, forming multiple clusters.

; [[Mutant Fish]]
: A [[fish]] pattern with an odd mixture of rows, columns and boxes.

== N ==
; [[Naked Single]]
: A cell with only a single candidate remaining. It can be placed in the cell.

; [[Naked Subset]] - [[Naked Pair]] | [[Naked Triple]] | [[Naked Quad]]
: A solving technique that isolates a group of cells and digits from the remainder of a house.

; [[Nishio]]
: A limited form of [[Trial & Error]] where only candidates for a single digit are considered.

; [[Nonet]]
: An alias used for [[box]]. This is the preferred term for [[Killer Sudoku]].

; [[Number]]
: An alias used for [[digit]].

== O ==
; [[Opposite]] | Opposite Parity
: Different parities in a single cluster. Only one of them can be true.
: ''See also:'' [[Conjugate pair]]

; [[Orbit]]
: A group of cells which must all contain a given or be empty in order to preserve [[symmetry]].

; [[Outie]]
: In [[Killer]] Sudoku, a [[cell]] that belongs to one of the selected [[cage]]s, but lies outside the tested [[house]](s).

== P ==
; [[Parity]]
: Status of a candidate relative to other candidates. Parity is represented by a color or parity mark.

; [[Pattern Overlay Method]]
: A solving technique that examines possible ways to place remaining candidates in the grid.

; [[Peer]]
: A cell that shares a house with another cell.

; [[Pencilmark]]
: The representation of a candidate.

; [[Pincer]]
: One of the end cells in an [[XY-Wing]] or [[XYZ-Wing]].

; [[Pinned Digit]]
: An alias used for [[Hidden Single]].

; [[Pivot]]
: The central cell in an [[XY-Wing]] or [[XYZ-Wing]].

; Placement
: Placing a candidate into an unsolved cell, thus changing it to a solved cell.

; [[PM]]
: The acronym for [[pencilmark]].

; [[Pointing Pair]]
: An alias used for [[Locked Candidates]].

; [[POM]]
: An acronym used for [[Pattern Overlay Method]]

; [[Possibility]]
: An alias used for [[candidate]].

== R ==
; [[Region]]
: An alias used for [[box]].

; [[Remote Pair]]
: A solving technique that combines several [[Naked Pair]]s.

; [[Restricted common]]
: A digit which cannot be present in 2 [[Almost Locked Set]]s at the same time.

; [[rncn]]
: A way to reference [[Sudoku]] [[cell]]s, by using a [[row]] number and a [[column]] number.

; [[Row]]
: A horizontal line in the grid, containing 9 cells.

; Row/Column-Block Interaction
: An alias used for [[Locked Candidates]] type 1.

; [[Rule]]
: The one rule of Sudoku. Complete the grid in such a way that each row, column and box contain digits 1 through 9.

== S ==
; [[Samunamupure]]
: Alias for [[Killer]] Sudoku. It is the Japanese form of "sum number"

; [[Samurai]]
: An variant with 5 overlapping Sudokus in an '''X''' pattern.

; [[Sashimi Fish]]
: A variety of [[fish]] where not all defining candidates are present.

; [[SC]]
: An acronym used for [[Simple Colors]]

; [[Scramble]]
: Create a [[mathematically equivalent]] grid from a given grid.

; [[Seafood]] | [[Sealife]]
: Aliases used for [[Fish]].

; [[See]]
: Two [[cell]]s ''see'' each other if they belong to the same [[constraint]] ([[row]], [[column]] or [[box]]).

; [[Sector]]
: An alias used for [[house]].

; [[Segment]]
: An alias used for [[intersection]].

; [[Set]]
: An alias used for [[house]].

; [[Shaolin]]
: A [[Gattai]]-25 [[Sudoku]] variant with 36 overlapping [[box]]es.

; [[Simple Colors]]
: A [[coloring]] technique that is limited to 2 colors, using a single cluster.

; [[Single]]
: Elementary solving technique, using the fact that only a single candidate is left for a constraint.

; [[Skinny Fish]]
: ''See:'' [[Sashimi Fish]]

; [[Skyscraper]]
: A particular variety of [[Turbot Fish]].

; [[Solution]]
: The answer to the puzzle. A grid where each cell contains a digit between 1 and 9 without violating the rule.

; [[Solving path]]
: A list of steps that shows how a particular puzzle is solved.

; [[Square]]
: An alias used for [[cell]].

; [[Squirmbag]]
: A [[fish]] of size 5.

; [[SSTS]]
: Simple Sudoku Technique Set. The set of techniques supported by the [[Simple Sudoku]] program.

; [[Stack (disambiguation)|Stack]]
: An alias used for [[tower]], sometimes used as an alias for [[boxcol]].

; Strong Inference
: ''see:'' [[Inference]]

; [[Strong link]]
: A link caused by a [[bivalue]] cell or [[bilocal]] unit.

; [[Subgrid]]
: An alias used for [[box]].

; [[Subset]]
: Usually refers to [[Naked Subset]] or [[Hidden Subset]].

; [[Sudoku]]
: A puzzle defined by a grid with givens and a unique solution, which can be found by completing the grid according to the rule.

; [[Sudoku-X]]
: A [[Sudoku]] variant where every [[diagonal]] must also contain the [[digit]]s 1 to 9.

; [[Subset]]
: A set formed by '''N''' cells and '''N''' digits, which are or can be isolated from the remaining cells and digits in a house.

; [[Sumo]]
: A [[Gattai]]-13 [[Sudoku]] variant with 16 overlapping [[box]]es.

; [[Swordfish]]
: A [[fish]] of size 3.

; [[Symbol]]
: An alias used for [[digit]].

== T ==
; [[Tabling]]
: A form of [[Trial & Error]] where all candidates are tried.

; [[Tower]]
: A part of the grid that contains 3 columns and 3 boxes.

; [[Traveling Pairs]]
: An alias used for [[Braid Analysis]].

; [[Trebor's Tables]]
: An alias used for [[tabling]].

; [[Trial & Error]]
: A solving technique that eliminates candidates by proving that their placement leads to a contradiction.

; [[Turbot Fish]]
: A solving technique that uses loops of odd length for a single digit.

== U ==
; [[Unavoidable Set]]
: A group of cells in the solution grid that requires at least one given.

; [[Unique Rectangle]]
: An [[Unavoidable Set]] with a rectangular shape.
: ''See also:'' [[Deadly Pattern]]

; Unique Solution
: The assumption that a Sudoku has a single solution. Subject of debate, especially when used in solving techniques.

; [[Uniqueness Test]]
: A series of solving techniques in which the solver avoids [[Unique Rectangle]]s.

; [[Unit]]
: An alias used for [[house]].

== V ==
; [[Valid]]
: A Sudoku is ''valid'' if and only if it has a unique solution.

; [[Value]]
: An alias used for [[digit]].

; [[Veracity]]
: ''See:'' [[Verity]].

; [[Verity]]
: A statement which is true for all alternatives in a limited set.

== W ==
; [[Walkthrough]] | Walkthru
: An alias used for [[Solving path]].

; Weak Inference
: ''see:'' [[Inference]]

; [[Weak link]]
: A link between 2 peers or 2 candidates in a single cell.

; [[Windoku]] | [[NRC-Sudoku]]
: A [[Sudoku]] variant with 4 extra "windows", and each window must also contain the [[digit]]s 1 to 9.

; [[WXYZ-Wing]]
: An extension of [[XYZ-Wing]] to 4 cells.

== X ==
; [[X-Cycle]]
: A loop containing candidates for a single digit.
: ''See also:'' [[Fishy Cycle]]

; [[X-Wing]]
: A [[fish]] of size 2.

; [[XY-Chain]]
: A chain of cells with 2 candidates each.

; [[XY-Wing]]
: A short [[XY-Chain]] with only 3 cells.

; [[XYZ-Wing]]
: A variation of [[XY-Wing]] that has an extra candidate in the pivot cell.

; [[XYZW-Wing]]
: Alias for [[WXYZ-Wing]].

== Y ==
; [[Y-Wing]]
: An alias used for [[XY-Wing]].

{{incomplete}}

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:19, 19 December 2022
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	: An alias used for [[XY-Wing]].		: An alias used for [[XY-Wing]].

−	~~{{incomplete}}~~	+	Special Thanks go to the following websites:
		+
		+	[https://wordleanswers.net/ Daily Wordle Answers]
		+	[https://codycrosscheats.com/ CodyCrossCheats.com]
		+	[https://nyt.solutions/ NYT Crossword Answers]

Terminology - Revision history

Rooted at 02:19, 19 December 2022

Rooted: Created page with "The Sudoku community has developed its own terminology. Most of the basic terms are now widely accepted, but some concepts are known by many different names. Here is an alphab..."