decision problem

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

decision problem

   <theory> A problem with a yes/no answer.  Determining whether
   some potential solution to a question is actually a solution
   or not.  E.g. "Is 43669" a {prime number}?".  This is in
   contrast to a "{search problem}" which must find a solution
   from scratch, e.g. "What is the millionth prime number?".

   See {decidability}.

   (1996-05-03)