What second output should an algorithm provide if it checks an empty list?

Study for the WGU C173 Scripting and Programming Test. Dive into coding challenges and multiple-choice questions with expert explanations. Prepare thoroughly and excel!

When an algorithm processes an empty list, the most logical second output is "Not OK." This response indicates that the algorithm defines an empty list as a problematic or exceptional case. In many programming contexts, particularly when performing operations that assume the presence of data, an empty list may be treated as an error condition or an invalid state for the algorithm's intended purpose.

This output serves as a way to signal to the user or calling function that the operation could not be completed satisfactorily due to the lack of data to process. Using "Not OK" communicates this state effectively. Other potential outputs like "Error" could imply a more serious problem, while "OK" would incorrectly suggest that the operation was successful despite the absence of data. The choice "Empty" might simply restate the condition of the list rather than evaluating its state. Therefore, "Not OK" is the most appropriate output in this context.

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