Pattern Recognition

Technology that searches data for like patterns and flags, and extracts the pertinent data, usually utilizing an algorithm. For instance, in looking for addresses, alpha characters followed by a comma and a space, followed by two capital alpha characters, followed by a space, followed by five or more digits, are usually the city, state and zip code. By programming the application to look for a pattern, the information can be electronically identified, extracted, or otherwise utilized or manipulated.

The identification of objects and images by their shapes, forms, outlines, color, surface texture, temperature, or other attribute, usually by automatic means. [From Weik '89]