# breakpoint

Pronunciation: say "BRAYK-poynt" /ˈbɹeɪkˌpɔɪnt/

## Noun

1. A point in a program where execution can be paused during debugging so that the program's state can be examined.
   - Simple: A spot in a computer program where it can be paused so you can check what is happening.
   - _The developer placed a breakpoint inside the loop to examine the array contents._
   - _Hitting the breakpoint paused execution just before the crash._
2. A viewport width at which a web page adjusts the position, size, or visibility of certain elements.
   - Simple: A screen width at which a web page changes how its parts are shown.
   - _The team added a breakpoint at 768 pixels to switch the grid to a single column on tablets._
   - _Designers test the page at every breakpoint to make sure nothing overlaps._
3. The point where surface water waves break, as in an ocean or a lake.
   - Simple: The place in the ocean or a lake where waves start to break.
   - _Experienced surfers line up just inside the breakpoint to catch the wave's energy._
   - _Storm swells pushed the breakpoint much closer to the beach._
4. A location used as a reference point when issuing watches, warnings, or advisories for specific areas.
   - Simple: A named place that forecasters use to mark where a storm warning starts or ends.
   - _The National Hurricane Center extended the warning from one breakpoint to another along the Gulf coast._
   - _Officials chose the inlet as a breakpoint so residents knew exactly which areas the watch covered._

## Verb

5. To flag a location in a program with a breakpoint so that execution halts there.
   - Simple: To mark a line of code in a program so it pauses there for checking.
   - _Developers often breakpoint the suspicious method before running the test suite._
   - _He breakpointed every database call to trace the slowdown._

## Origin

Formed from break + point.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/breakpoint (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).