Since zero is the lowest value of an unsigned binary
integer, which is one of the most fundamental types in
programming and hardware design, it is often natural to
count from zero rather than one, especially when the integer
is actually an index, as in hardware addressing or C and
Lisp's 0-based indexing of arrays.
Hackers and computer scientists often like to call the first
chapter of a publication "Chapter 0", especially if it is of
an introductory nature (one of the classic instances was in
the First Edition of K&R). In recent years this trait has
also been observed among many pure mathematicians (who have an
independent tradition of numbering from 0).
Zero-based numbering tends to reduce fencepost errors,
though it cannot eliminate them entirely.
Logically, the next item after the zeroth should be the
"oneth" but this is never used.
[Jargon File]
(1997-12-07)
Nearby terms:
zero assignment « zero-content « Zero Insertion Force « zeroth » ZEST » ZetaLisp » zetta-
