The Batch processing reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Batch processing

Batch Processing is the en-masse execution of a series of jobs on a computer. The term batch originated in the days when users entered programs onto punch cards. They would give system operators a program, or a batch, of punched cards. The system operator would at some stage feed them into the computer.

Batch jobs are usually stored up during a period of time. They are run periodically; perhaps once a month or when the computer is idle. Batch processing is useful when a computer and or its peripheral devices are free for an extended period of time. When a batch job begins, it will continue until it is done, or if there is an error.

The opposite to batch processing is transaction processing and is not to be confused with DOS batch files.

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