Discrete

Discrete in science is the opposite of continuous: something that is separate; distinct; individual. Discrete may refer to:

• Discrete particle or quantum in physics, for example in quantum theory
• Discrete device, an electronic component with just one circuit element, either passive or active, other than an integrated circuit
• Discrete group, a group with the discrete topology
• Discrete category, category whose only arrows are identity arrows
• Discrete mathematics, the study of structures without continuity
• Discrete optimization, a branch of optimization in applied mathematics and computer science
• Discrete probability distribution, a random variable that can be counted
• Discrete signal, a time series consisting of a sequence of quantities
• Discrete space, a simple example of a topological space
• Discrete spline interpolation, the discrete analog of ordinary spline interpolation
• Discrete time, non-continuous time, which results in discrete-time samples
• Discrete pitch, a pitch with a steady frequency, rather than an indiscrete gliding, glissando or portamento, pitch