(definition)
Definition: A solution to a problem that is better than all other solutions that are slightly different, but worse than the global optimum.
See also prisoner's dilemma, optimization problem.
Note: Some search methods may get trapped in a local optimum and miss the global optimum.
Author: PEB
If you have suggestions, corrections, or comments, please get in touch with Paul E. Black.
Entry modified 17 December 2004.
HTML page formatted Fri Mar 25 16:20:34 2011.
Cite this as:
Paul E. Black, "local optimum", in
Dictionary of Algorithms and Data
Structures [online], Paul E. Black, ed.,
U.S. National Institute of
Standards and Technology. 17 December 2004. (accessed TODAY)
Available from: http://www.nist.gov/dads/HTML/localoptimum.html