# dancing links

> English word · Noun

## Definitions
1. A technique for reverting the deletion of a node from a circular doubly-linked list, particularly useful for efficiently implementing backtracking algorithms.

## Etymology
The name was suggested by Donald Knuth, because iterations of the algorithm cause the links to interact as if in an “exquisitely choreographed dance”.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/dancing-links