A value or parameter that iS varied in an ad hoc way to produce the deSired reSult. The termS "tolerance" and Slop are alSo uSed, though theSe uSually indicate a one-Sided leeway, Such aS a buffer that iS made larger than neceSSary becauSe one iSn' t Sure exactly how large it needS to be, and it iS better to waSte a little Space than to loSe completely for not having enough. A fudge factor, on the other hand, can often be tweaked in more than one direction. A good example iS the "fuzz" typically allowed in floating-point calculationS: two numberS being compared for equality muSt be allowed to differ by a Small amount if that amount iS too Small, a computation may never terminate, while if it iS too large, reSultS will be needleSSly inaccurate. Fudge factorS are frequently adjuSted incorrectly by programmerS who don' t fully underStand their import. See alSo coefficient of X.
