Okuzeka
Software Engineering vocabulary · Data Structures and Algorithms

Topological sort

Meaning in software engineering, with examples

nounAdvanced term

In software engineering, topological sort means: An ordering of a directed acyclic graph in which every dependency appears before the item that depends on it.

In Turkish: topolojik sıralama

How it is used

Used for dependency resolution, task scheduling, and build systems when one step must happen before another. It only works when the graph has no cycles.

Example sentences

  1. The build tool uses a topological sort to decide which packages must compile first before the API module.

    Here the term means arranging package dependencies into a valid build order so no module is compiled before a required one.

  2. During the interview, she explained why a topological sort fails when the dependency graph contains a cycle.

    In this example, the term refers to an ordering algorithm that cannot produce a valid sequence if items depend on each other in a loop.

Common collocations

  • perform a topological sort
  • topological sort algorithm
  • topological sort order
  • algorithmA clear, step-by-step method for solving a problem or doing a task, such as sorting a list or finding the shortest route between two points.
  • sortTo put items in a particular order, for example numbers from smallest to largest or names alphabetically. Many algorithms exist to do this efficiently.

More terms: Data Structures and Algorithms

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level: