Glitch 310005 225889885 2008-07-15T21:47:33Z NovaDog 5278332 A glitch is not a bug and it will not be known as a bug by anyone who has devoted a single brain cell to either of the categories below {{sprotect2}} {{otheruses}} [[Image:Glitch cityscrnshot.jpg|frame|right|Glitch City, a ''[[Pokémon]]'' programming error that creates a jumble of tiles. ]] A '''glitch''' is a short-lived [[fault]] in a system. The term is particularly common in the [[computing]] and [[electronics]] industries, and in [[circuit bending]], as well as among players of [[video game]]s, although it is applied to all types of systems including human [[organization]]s and nature. The term derives from the German ''glitschig,'' meaning 'slippery.' ==Electronics glitch== ''In [[electronics]]'', a glitch is an electrical pulse of short duration that is usually the result of a fault or design error, particularly in a [[digital circuit]]. For example, many electronic components such as [[Flip-flop (electronics)|flip-flop]]s are triggered by a pulse that must not be shorter than a specified minimum duration, otherwise the component may malfunction. A pulse shorter than the specified minimum is called a glitch. A related concept is the [[runt pulse]], a pulse whose amplitude is smaller than the minimum level specified for correct operation, and a [[spike]], a short pulse similar to a glitch but often caused by [[ringing]] or [[crosstalk]]. A ''glitch'' can occur in the presence of [[race condition]] in a poorly designed [[digital]] logic circuit. ==Computer glitch== A '''computer glitch''' is the failure of a system, usually containing a computing device, to complete its functions or to perform them properly. It frequently refers to an error which is not detected at the time it occurs but shows up later in data errors or incorrect human decisions. While the fault is usually attributed to the [[computer hardware]], this is often not the case since hardware failures rarely go undetected. Other situations which are frequently called computer glitches are: * Incorrectly written software ([[software bug]]) * Incorrect instructions given by the operator ([[ID-Ten-T Error|operator error]]) (this might also be considered a software bug) * Undetected invalid input data (this might also be considered a software bug) * Undetected communications errors * Computer [[computer virus|viruses]] * Computer [[security cracking]] (sometimes erroneously called "hacking") * Another human error unrelated to the computer == Etymology == Canadian Oxford lists it as a 20th century word of unknown origin. Some reference books, including Random House's American Slang, say it comes from the German word glitschen ("to slip") and the Yiddish word gletshn ("to slide or skid"). Either way it's fairly new. So new, in fact, that on July 23, 1965, Time magazine felt it necessary to define it in an article: "Glitches — a spaceman's word for irritating disturbances." ==Video game glitches== [[Image:Quake3Glitch.gif|200px|right|thumb|A glitch in the final cutscene of [[Quake III]]]] In [[video games]], a glitch is a programming error which results in behavior not intended by the programmers. Glitches may include incorrectly displayed graphics, collision detection errors, game-freezing or crashes, sound issues, and others.<ref name="mirror">{{cite web |url=http://www.montrealmirror.com/2008/030608/games1.html |title=Testing, testing, testing |accessdate=2008-06-17 |last=Ofoe |first=Emmanuel-Yvan |coauthor=William Pare |date= Mar 06 - Mar 12.2008 |publisher=Montreal Mirror}}</ref> "[[Glitching]]" is the practice of a player exploiting glitches to gain an advantage. During [[quality assurance]] (such as the role of a [[game tester]] for [[video games]]), glitches must be located, a report compiled, and then fed back to the programmers.<ref name="mirror"/> ==See also == *[[Software bug]] *[[Glitch (music)]] *[[Hazard (logic)]] *[[Boot]] *[[Anomaly_in_software|Anomaly in software]] *[[Glitching]] [[Category:Digital electronics]] [[Category:Programming bugs]] [[Category:Software_anomalies]] [[Category:Computer errors]] [[Category:German loanwords]] [[de:Glitch (Elektronik)]] [[fr:Glitch]] [[nl:Glitch]] [[pt:Glitch]] [[simple:Glitch]] [[fi:Glitch]] [[sv:Glitch]]