---
slug: "Cyclic"
name: "Cyclic"
type: "Data Structures"
layer: "Infrastructure"
ref: "Cyclic#a8f6"
sema_id: "sema:Cyclic#mh:SHA-256:a8f6c907685f7a420ccdc584e4b9066b476aa82171a6d280eb1441fc2769b423"
tags: ["Infrastructure","Data Structures"]
updated: 2026-11-11
mindscape: "bootstrap"
index_url: https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap.json
url: https://mindscape.world/bootstrap/Cyclic/
related: ["Loop","Topology"]
---

# Cyclic

Recursive or iterative topology

Layer: Infrastructure · Category: Data Structures

## Mechanism

A [Topology](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Topology.md) that permits feedback [Loop](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Loop.md)s, allowing a process to revisit previous states or refine outputs iteratively. Essential for self-correcting systems and recursive optimization.

## Invariants

- Recurrence: At least one path exists from a node to itself.
- Termination Condition: Must have a defined exit state to prevent infinite loops.

## Failure modes

—

## Data schema

```json
{
  "type": "object",
  "description": "A cyclic topology — nodes connected in a closed loop where traversal returns to origin.",
  "properties": {
    "nodes": {
      "type": "array",
      "description": "Ordered node identifiers traversed in the cycle"
    },
    "period": {
      "type": "integer",
      "description": "Cycle length"
    }
  }
}
```

## Builds on

- [Loop](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Loop.md) (Infrastructure; References)
- [Topology](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Topology.md) (Infrastructure; References)

## Used by

—

## Identity

- Sema ID: `sema:Cyclic#mh:SHA-256:a8f6c907685f7a420ccdc584e4b9066b476aa82171a6d280eb1441fc2769b423`
- Ref: `Cyclic#a8f6`
- Supersedes:
  - `sema:Cyclic#mh:SHA-256:ac1335676817eaedd894da4a2d11671dec5a20dba76a8f5d55d1a6eed20e2051`
  - `sema:Cyclic#mh:SHA-256:6d5fe05bc8d72bd3758ea9c644e8108ac47aa144dc60b6c3e0de3b0d85d941a0`

## Links

- [Pattern page](https://mindscape.world/bootstrap/Cyclic/)
- [View in the interactive graph](https://mindscape.world/bootstrap/#Cyclic)
- [JSON](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap/Cyclic.json)
- [Index of all patterns](https://mindscape.world/scapes/bootstrap.json)