Dual loop

A dual loop, in computer science and programming, refers to the nesting of one loop structure (such as a for loop or while loop) entirely within another loop structure of the same or different type. This creates an iterative process where the inner loop executes completely for each iteration of the outer loop.

Dual loops are often used to process data structures that have two dimensions, such as matrices (2D arrays), tables, or grids. The outer loop typically iterates through rows, while the inner loop iterates through columns (or vice versa), allowing access to each element within the structure. The complexity of operations performed within a dual loop is often O(n*m), where 'n' is the number of iterations in the outer loop and 'm' is the number of iterations in the inner loop.

Beyond data structure manipulation, dual loops can be employed in scenarios requiring repeated operations based on two independent variables, such as calculations involving multiple parameters where each combination of parameters needs evaluation. The use of dual loops can significantly increase the execution time of a program, especially with large datasets or complex operations within the loops. Alternative approaches, such as vectorization or optimized algorithms, are sometimes considered to improve performance when dealing with time-critical applications.