pattern A pattern is a regularity in the world, in human-made design, or in abstract ideas. As such, the elements of a pattern repeat in a predictable manner. A geometric pattern is a kind of pattern formed of geometric shapes and typically repeated l ...

is an original object used to make copies, or a set of repeating objects in a decorative design and in other disciplines. Pattern, patterns, or patterning may also refer to:

Mathematics, science, and technology

Computing

Software design pattern In software engineering, a software design pattern or design pattern is a general, reusable solution to a commonly occurring problem in many contexts in software design. A design pattern is not a rigid structure to be transplanted directly into s ...

, a standard form for a solution to common problems in software design. **

Architectural pattern Software architecture pattern is a reusable, proven solution to a specific, recurring problem focused on architectural design challenges, which can be applied within various architectural styles. Examples Some examples of architectural patte ...

, for software architecture ** Interaction design pattern, used in interaction design / human-computer interaction *

Pattern recognition Pattern recognition is the task of assigning a class to an observation based on patterns extracted from data. While similar, pattern recognition (PR) is not to be confused with pattern machines (PM) which may possess PR capabilities but their p ...

, in machine learning * In

machine learning Machine learning (ML) is a field of study in artificial intelligence concerned with the development and study of Computational statistics, statistical algorithms that can learn from data and generalise to unseen data, and thus perform Task ( ...

, a non-null finite sequence of constant and variable symbols *

Regular expression A regular expression (shortened as regex or regexp), sometimes referred to as rational expression, is a sequence of characters that specifies a match pattern in text. Usually such patterns are used by string-searching algorithms for "find" ...

, often called a pattern

Other

Airfield traffic pattern An airfield traffic pattern is a standard path followed by aircraft when takeoff, taking off or landing while maintaining visual contact with the airfield. At an airport, the pattern (or circuit) is a standard path for coordinating air traffic c ...

, the traffic flow immediately surrounding a runway *

Design pattern A design pattern is the re-usable form of a solution to a design problem. The idea was introduced by the architect Christopher Alexander and has been adapted for various other disciplines, particularly software engineering. The " Gang of Four" ...

, a standard form for a solution to common problems in design **

Pattern book A pattern book, or architectural pattern book, is a book of architectural designs, usually providing enough for non-architects to build structures that are copies or significant derivatives of major architect-designed works. A number of pattern bo ...

, a book of architectural designs ** Pattern (architecture), a standard form (pattern language) for a solution to common problems in architecture **

(see above) *

Pattern formation The science of pattern formation deals with the visible, (statistically) orderly outcomes of self-organization and the common principles behind similar patterns in nature. In developmental biology, pattern formation refers to the generation of c ...

, the processes and mechanisms by which patterns such as the stripes of animals form; also, a science dealing with outcomes of self-organisation *

Pattern language A pattern language is an organized and coherent set of ''patterns'', each of which describes a problem and the core of a solution that can be used in many ways within a specific field of expertise. The term was coined by architect Christopher Ale ...

, a structured method of describing good design practices *

Pattern theory Pattern theory, formulated by Ulf Grenander, is a mathematical formalism to describe knowledge of the world as patterns. It differs from other approaches to artificial intelligence in that it does not begin by prescribing algorithms and machin ...

, a mathematical formalism to describe knowledge of the world as patterns *

Patterns in nature Patterns in nature are visible regularities of form found in the natural world. These patterns recur in different contexts and can sometimes be modelled mathematically. Natural patterns include symmetries, trees, spirals, meanders, wave ...

, the visible regularities of form found in nature and explained by science *

Pedagogical patterns A pedagogical pattern is the re-usable form of a solution to a problem or task in pedagogy, analogous to how a design pattern is the re-usable form of a solution to a design problem. Pedagogical patterns are used to document and share best practice ...

* In

ethnomethodology Ethnomethodology is the study of how social order is produced in and through processes of social interaction.Garfinkel, H. (1974) 'The origins of the term ethnomethodology', in R.Turner (Ed.) Ethnomethodology, Penguin, Harmondsworth, pp 15–18. ...

, a (generally non-rigid) routine

Manufacturing

Multiple patterning Multiple patterning (or multi-patterning) is a class of technologies for manufacturing integrated circuits (ICs), developed for photolithography to enhance the feature density. It is expected to be necessary for the 10 nm and 7 nm node s ...

, a class of technologies for manufacturing integrated circuits *

Pattern (casting) In casting, a pattern is a replica of the object to be cast, used to form the sand mould cavity into which molten metal is poured during the casting process. Once the pattern has been used to form the sand mould cavity, the pattern is then remov ...

, a replica of the object to be cast *

Pattern coin A pattern coin is a coin which has not been approved for release, but produced to evaluate a proposed coin design. They are often off-metal strike (using metals of lower value to test out the dies), to proof standard or piedforts. Many coin co ...

, a coin struck to test a new design, alloy, or method of manufacture *

Pattern (sewing) In sewing and fashion design, a pattern is the stencil, template from which the parts of a garment are traced onto woven fabric, woven or knitted fabrics before being cut out and assembled. Patterns are usually made of paper, and are sometimes ...

, the original garment, or a paper template, from which other garments are copied and produced

Fiction

* ''Patterns'' (''Kraft Television Theatre''), a 1955 live television drama written by Rod Serling * ''Patterns'' (film), a 1956 film based on the TV show * ''Patterns'', a 1989 novel by

Pat Cadigan Patricia Oren Kearney Cadigan (born September 10, 1953) is a British-American science fiction author, whose work is most often identified with the cyberpunk movement. Her novels and short stories often explore the relationship between the human ...

Music

* ''Patterns'', a 1975 album by

Kiki Dee Pauline Matthews (born 6 March 1947), better known by her stage name Kiki Dee, is an English pop singer. Known for her blue-eyed soul vocals, she was the first female singer from the UK to sign with Motown's Tamla Records. Dee is best known f ...

Patterns (Bobby Hutcherson album) ''Patterns'' is an album by the jazz vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson, released on the Blue Note label. Although recorded in 1968, the album was not released until 1980. "A Time to Go" was composed by James Spaulding as a tribute to Martin Luther ...

, by Bobby Hutcherson, released in 1980 *

Patterns (Kelsea Ballerini album) ''Patterns'' is the fifth studio album by American singer Kelsea Ballerini. The album was released on October 25, 2024, through Black River Entertainment. Ballerini co-produced the album along with Alysa Vanderheym. " Cowboys Cry Too" was release ...

, by Kelsea Ballerini, released in 2024 *

Patterns (EP) ''Patterns'' is a 3-song EP by Long Beach, California band, Repeater. This EP was produced and mixed by Ross Robinson (At The Drive-In, Korn, The Cure The Cure are an English Rock music, rock band formed in Crawley in 1976 by Robert Smit ...

, an EP by Repeater *''Patterns'', an alternative title of the Modern Jazz Quartet's album ''

Music from Odds Against Tomorrow ''Music from Odds Against Tomorrow'' (also released as ''Patterns'') is an album by American jazz group the Modern Jazz Quartet featuring interpretations of the soundtrack score for the 1959 motion picture ''Odds Against Tomorrow''. It was releas ...

'' * "Patterns" (Paul Simon song) * "Patterns", a polka song by "Weird Al" Yankovic * Patterns (Small Faces song), 1967

Other uses

Pattern (devotional) A pattern () in Irish Roman Catholicism refers to the devotions that take place within a parish on the feast day of the patron saint of the parish, on that date, called a Pattern day, or the nearest Sunday, called Pattern Sunday. In the case of a ...

, in Irish Catholicism, the devotional practices associated with a patron saint * Patterns II, a pencil and paper game designed by Sid Sackson * Patterns (video game), a building game for personal computers *

Juggling pattern A juggling pattern or juggling trick is a specific manipulation of juggling prop, props during the practice of juggling. "Juggling, like musical technique, music, combines abstract patterns and mind-body coordination in a pleasing way." Descriptio ...

, a trick performed while juggling