Source : Free On-Line Dictionary of Computing

infinite loop
     
         (Or "endless loop") Where a piece of program is
        executed repeatedly with no hope of stopping.  This is nearly
        always because of a {bug}, e.g. if the condition for exiting
        the loop is wrong, though it may be intentional if the program
        is controlling an {embedded system} which is supposed to run
        continuously until it is turned off.  The programmer may also
        intend the program to run until interrupted by the user.  An
        endless loop may also be used as a last-resort error handler
        when no other action is appropriate.  This is used in some
        {operating system} kernels following a {panic}.
     
        A program executing an infinite loop is said to {spin} or
        {buzz} forever and goes {catatonic}.  The program is "wound
        around the axle".
     
        A standard joke has been made about each generation's exemplar
        of the ultra-fast machine: "The Cray-3 is so fast it can
        execute an infinite loop in under 2 seconds!"
     
        See also {black hole}, {recursion}, {infinite loop}.
     
        [{Jargon File}]
     
        (1996-05-11)