The question is whether or how much C-level looping is there actually. Some CISC processors include string operators so the XOR might actually be a single instruction.

While it might be a single instruction, I'm pretty sure the number of ticks that is used up is still proportional to the length of the strings - you just can't wrap an O(n) operation in O(1) with finite hardware.

Perl 6 - the future is here, just unevenly distributed

Some CISC processors include string operators so the XOR might actually be a single instruction.

They still loop, just at the microcode level.

There is always a conditional test; address register(s) get incremented; and often a count register gets decremented; for some number of repetitions or until some condition is met. It's still a 'loop' by any standard.

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With the rise and rise of 'Social' network sites: 'Computers are making people easier to use everyday'

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The start of some sanity?

Sure it's a loop. That's why I wrote "C-level loop". And you spoke about looping in C as well :-)

Jenda
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