An edge case is a problem or situation that occurs only at an extreme (maximum or minimum) operating parameter.
For example, a stereo speaker might distort audio when played at its maximum rated volume, even in the absence of other extreme settings or conditions.
An edge case can be expected or unexpected. In engineering, the process of planning for and gracefully addressing edge cases can be a significant task, and one that may be overlooked or underestimated. Non-trivial edge cases can result in a failure of the object being engineered that may not have been imagined during the design phase or anticipated as possible during normal use. For this reason, attempts to formalize good engineering practices often incorporate information about dealing with edge cases.
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Famous quotes containing the words edge and/or case:
“His poor, crazy, deformed body was a mere Pandora’s box, containing all the physical ills that ever afflicted humanity. This, perhaps, whetted the edge of his satire, and may in some degree excuse it.”
—Philip Dormer Stanhope, 4th Earl Chesterfield (1694–1773)
“In all unmerciful actions, the worst of men pay this compliment at least to humanity, as to endeavour to wear as much of the appearance of it, as the case will well let them.”
—Laurence Sterne (1713–1768)