ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Harwell-Boeing file format

The Harwell-Boeing file format is a special way of writing down numbers so that a computer can understand it. It's kind of like how we write down our phone numbers or addresses so other people can read and understand them.

This format is used for storing mathematical equations and data in a way that is easy for computers to use. It's named after two big companies, Harwell and Boeing, who helped to develop this format.

Here's how it works: Imagine you have a bunch of numbers that represent a math problem or equation. You could write them all down in a list in a regular format, but that would take up a lot of space and it would be hard for a computer to quickly find the numbers it needs.

Instead, the Harwell-Boeing format organizes the numbers in a special way. It uses something called a "sparse matrix" where only the important numbers are recorded in a specific order that makes it easy for a computer to find them quickly. This saves a lot of space and allows computers to solve equations or work with data much faster.

Overall, the Harwell-Boeing file format is a special way of organizing mathematical data so that it can be easily understood and worked with by computers.