Pattern vs. Sequence — What's the Difference?

A pattern is a regularity in the world, in human-made design, or in abstract ideas. As such, the elements of a pattern repeat in a predictable manner.

In mathematics, a sequence is an enumerated collection of objects in which repetitions are allowed and order matters. Like a set, it contains members (also called elements, or terms).

A usually repeating artistic or decorative design

A particular order in which related things follow each other

A natural or accidental arrangement or sequence

A set of related events, movements, or items that follow each other in a particular order

A plan, diagram, or model to be followed in making things

A part of a film dealing with one particular event or topic

A model or original used for imitation or as an archetype.

(in the Eucharist) a hymn said or sung after the Gradual or Alleluia that precedes the Gospel.

A composite of traits or features characteristic of an individual or a group

Arrange in a particular order

Form and style in an artistic work or body of artistic works.

Play or record (music) with a sequencer.

The configuration of gunshots upon a target that is used as an indication of skill in shooting.

A following of one thing after another; succession.

The distribution and spread, around a targeted region, of spent shrapnel, bomb fragments, or shot from a shotgun.

An order of succession; an arrangement.

Enough material to make a complete garment.

A related or continuous series.

A test pattern.

(Games) Three or more playing cards in consecutive order and usually the same suit; a run.

The flight path of an aircraft about to land

A series of related shots that constitute a complete unit of action in a movie.

(Football) A pass pattern.

(Music) A melodic or harmonic pattern successively repeated at different pitches with or without a key change.

To make, mold, or design by following a pattern

Roman Catholic Church A hymn sung between the gradual and the Gospel.

To cover or ornament with a design or pattern.

(Mathematics) An ordered set of quantities, as x, 2x2, 3x3, 4x4.

To make a pattern.

(Biochemistry) The order of constituents in a polymer, especially the order of nucleotides in a nucleic acid or of the amino acids in a protein.

Model, example.

To organize or arrange in a sequence.

Something from which a copy is made; a model or outline.

To determine the order of constituents in (a polymer, such as a nucleic acid or protein molecule).

Someone or something seen as an example to be imitated; an exemplar.

A set of things next to each other in a set order; a series

A copy.

(uncountable) The state of being sequent or following; order of succession.

A sample; of coins, an example which was struck but never minted.

A series of musical phrases where a theme or melody is repeated, with some change each time, such as in pitch or length (example: opening of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony).

A representative example.

A musical composition used in some Catholic Masses between the readings. The most famous sequence is the Dies Irae (Day of Wrath) formerly used in funeral services.

(US) The material needed to make a piece of clothing.

(mathematics) An ordered list of objects, typically indexed with natural numbers.

(textiles) The paper or cardboard template from which the parts of a garment are traced onto fabric prior to cutting out and assembling.

A subsequent event; a consequence or result.

A full-sized model around which a mould of sand is made, to receive the melted metal. It is usually made of wood and in several parts, so as to be removed from the mould without damage.

A series of shots that depict a single action or style in a film, television show etc.

(computing) A text string containing wildcards, used for matching.

(card games) A meld consisting of three or more cards of successive ranks in the same suit, such as the four, five and six of hearts.

A design pattern.

(transitive) to arrange in an order

Coherent or decorative arrangement.

To determine the order of things, especially of amino acids in a protein, or of bases in a nucleic acid

A design, motif or decoration, especially formed from regular repeated elements.

(transitive) to produce (music) with a sequencer

A naturally-occurring or random arrangement of shapes, colours etc. which have a regular or decorative effect.

The state of being sequent; succession; order of following; arrangement.

The given spread, range etc. of shot fired from a gun.

That which follows or succeeds as an effect; sequel; consequence; result.

A particular sequence of events, facts etc. which can be understood, used to predict the future, or seen to have a mathematical, geometric, statistical etc. relationship.

Simple succession, or the coming after in time, without asserting or implying causative energy; as, the reactions of chemical agents may be conceived as merely invariable sequences.

(linguistics) An intelligible arrangement in a given area of language.

Any succession of chords (or harmonic phrase) rising or falling by the regular diatonic degrees in the same scale; a succession of similar harmonic steps.

A sequence of notes, percussion etc. in a tracker module, usable once or many times within the song.

A hymn introduced in the Mass on certain festival days, and recited or sung immediately before the gospel, and after the gradual or introit, whence the name.

To apply a pattern.

Three or more cards of the same suit in immediately consecutive order of value; as, ace, king, and queen; or knave, ten, nine, and eight.

To make or design (anything) by, from, or after, something that serves as a pattern; to copy; to model; to imitate.

The specific order of any linear arrangement of items; as, the sequence of amino acid residues in a protein; the sequence of instructions in a computer program; the sequence of acts in a variety show.

To follow an example.

To determine the sequence of; as, to sequence a protein or a DNA fragment.

To fit into a pattern.

Serial arrangement in which things follow in logical order or a recurrent pattern;

(transitive) To serve as an example for.

A following of one thing after another in time;

To observe an animal closely over time in order to discern its habitual movements and behaviours.

Film consisting of a succession of related shots that develop a given subject in a movie

(MLE) To arrange, to organise, to fix.

The action of following in order;

Of or in accordance with a usual pattern, or type; model; ideal.

Several repetitions of a melodic phrase in different keys

Anything proposed for imitation; an archetype; an exemplar; that which is to be, or is worthy to be, copied or imitated; as, a pattern of a machine.

Arrange in a sequence

A part showing the figure or quality of the whole; a specimen; a sample; an example; an instance.

Determine the order of constituents in;

Stuff sufficient for a garment; as, a dress pattern.

Figure or style of decoration; design; as, wall paper of a beautiful pattern.

Something made after a model; a copy.

Anything cut or formed to serve as a guide to cutting or forming objects; as, a dressmaker's pattern.

A full-sized model around which a mold of sand is made, to receive the melted metal. It is usually made of wood and in several parts, so as to be removed from the mold without injuring it.

A recognizable characteristic relationship or set of relationships between the members of any set of objects or actions, or the properties of the members; also, the set having a definable relationship between its members.

A diagram showing the distribution of the pellets of a shotgun on a vertical target perpendicular to the plane of fire.

The recommended flight path for an airplane to follow as it approaches an airport for a landing. Same as landing pattern.

An image or diagram containing lines, usually horizontal, vertical, and diagonal, sometimes of varying widths, used to test the resolution of an optical instrument or the accuracy of reproduction of image copying or transmission equipment. Same as test pattern.

To make or design (anything) by, from, or after, something that serves as a pattern; to copy; to model; to imitate.

To serve as an example for; also, to parallel.

A perceptual structure;

A customary way of operation or behavior;

A decorative or artistic work;

Something regarded as a normative example;

A model considered worthy of imitation;

Something intended as a guide for making something else;

The path that is prescribed for an airplane that is preparing to land at an airport;

Graphical representation (in polar or cartesian coordinates) of the spatial distribution of radiation from an antenna as a function of angle

Plan or create according to a model or models

Form a pattern;