Just as the word empty is saying that something is of volume zero I wonder if there is a word that says that something is of length zero or has a duration of zero.
Sample Sentence:
The program should terminate if the calculated period is _______.
Just as the word empty is saying that something is of volume zero I wonder if there is a word that says that something is of length zero or has a duration of zero.
Sample Sentence:
The program should terminate if the calculated period is _______.
Well, you can just use zero in this particular case. The beauty of zero is that units don't matter; zero seconds is the same as zero years.
A related word is instantaneous:
done, occurring, or acting without any perceptible duration of time
(source: Merriam-Webster)
but you wouldn't use it in this sample sentence.
"O-length" and "zero-length" are profusely used in mathematics and physics textbooks, which would suggest that a better word is still to be found. Sorry.
P.S.: The term "null" is quite popular but I'm not sure that it has a legitimate place in non-tech literature.
Zero works as already pointed out. If you want to avoid it for some reason, you can use nil. A lesser used synonym is zilch.
The program should terminate if the calculated period is nil.
M-W:
nil noun
: nothing, zero
They took a 2 to nil lead in the second half of the game.
zilch adjective or noun
: zero, nothing
There is word that fits your definition, although it doesn't fit your example sentence.
adjective
indefinitely or exceedingly small; minute: infinitesimal vessels in the circulatory system.
immeasurably small; less than an assignable quantity: to an infinitesimal degree.
of, relating to, or involving infinitesimals.
noun
an infinitesimal quantity.
Mathematics. a variable having zero as a limit.