Domino (also dominoes or dominoes) is a small, rectangular block used as a gaming object. Dominoes are usually made of hard material such as wood or bone and can be stacked on one another to form lines or angular patterns. Each domino has a blank or matching-patterned side, and a numbered or otherwise identifying mark or pattern on the other. The term domino may also refer to any of the several games played with these tiles.
The word domino may also describe a person or organization that exerts influence in a way similar to the falling of a domino chain. This effect can be used for both good and bad. It is sometimes referred to as the domino effect, because it can lead to a cascade of events that can have unforeseen consequences.
For example, if a company announces plans to cut costs and close stores, it can cause a domino effect in which other businesses follow suit and other employers lose employees. In other cases, a domino effect can be beneficial, such as when an employee is fired, which causes the company to hire more people.
The term may also refer to a sequence of events that result in a desired outcome, such as a chain reaction in which all the pieces fall into place. For instance, if a person or group takes steps to improve their image, this can have a positive domino effect on the rest of the community.
You may have seen a video of a long line of dominoes that are set up in careful sequence, all toppling with the nudge of only one. The domino effect is a fascinating sight to see. Dominoes are not only entertaining to watch, but they are also useful for teaching children the importance of taking responsibility for their actions.
Plotting a novel often comes down to answering the question, “What happens next?” The idea of using a domino effect is an interesting one because it shows how even a small change can have a large impact.
While the worlds of data analysis and software engineering have many similarities, there are also fundamental differences that can lead to friction when tools from the world of software development are grafted onto analytical workflows. The Domino platform is designed to fill these gaps and accelerate modern analytics.
Like playing cards, of which they are a variant, dominoes have two square ends that are marked with an arrangement of spots or pips (from one to six) on each end. The value of each domino is indicated by the number of pips on its face, which are sometimes called its rank or weight. The values range from one to twelve, with the most common being double-six. Larger sets of dominoes are often extended by introducing additional numbers, thus increasing the number of possible combinations of ends. For this reason, a complete set of dominoes requires a total of 28 dominoes in order to play any of the most popular domino games.