Discrete-event simulation

A computer modeling method in which a system’s state changes at discrete points in time, triggered by events. It represents processes such as queues, production lines, and communication networks.

Event queue: A data structure that stores events ordered by their scheduled execution times. The simulation selects its next state change from this ordered collection.
System state: A description of the values and conditions that characterize a system at a given time. The model’s state is the information changed by each event.
Queueing theory: The mathematical study of waiting lines, service processes, and congestion. Queueing systems are a classic setting for discrete-event models.
System dynamics: A modeling approach that represents feedback-driven systems through stocks, flows, and continuous change. It represents aggregate evolution continuously rather than tracking individual events.
Operations research: The discipline of using mathematical and computational methods to support decisions about complex systems. Discrete-event simulation became a tool for analyzing operational systems too complex for closed-form solutions.
Simulation clock: A variable representing the current time within a computer simulation. It jumps to each event’s time rather than advancing through every instant.
Event (computing): A notable occurrence that triggers a response in a computer system or model. An event marks a time when the simulated system may change.
Manufacturing system: A coordinated set of processes and resources that transforms materials into products. Events can represent machine operations, breakdowns, and jobs moving between stations.
Agent-based model: A simulation in which autonomous agents interact according to specified rules. It emphasizes individual decision-making and interaction, which can complement event scheduling.
Monte Carlo simulation: A simulation technique that uses repeated random sampling to study uncertain outcomes. Its early computational development helped establish simulation as a practical analysis method.

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