Constraint

A constraint is something that plays the part of a physical, social or financial restriction. It is a derived form of the intransitive verb form constrained.

Constraint may refer to:

• Theory of constraints, in business management
• Loading gauge or structure gauge (constraints in engineering)
• A constraint on constrained writing, in literature
  • For example, Oulipian constraints

In mathematics

• Constraint (mathematics)
• Constrained optimization
• Constraint (classical mechanics), including:
  • First class constraint and second class constraint in Hamiltonian mechanics.
  • Primary constraint and secondary constraint in Hamiltonian mechanics.
• Constraint (information theory)
• Constraint algorithm such as SHAKE, or LINCS

In computing

• Constraint (computer-aided design), in engineering design and solid modeling.
• Constraint satisfaction, in computer science
• Finite domain constraints, in constraint satisfaction.
• Integrity constraints, an element of database design

In linguistics

• Optimality Theory, a constraint-based theory which is primarily influential in phonology

In Biology

• Biological constraints, factors which make populations resistant to evolutionary change.

In business

• Constraint optimization, in finance, linear programming, economics and cost modeling.

See also

• Carrier's constraint
• Restraint (disambiguation)