Computer Dictionary of Information Technology

persistence

1. <programming> A property of a programming language where created objects and variables continue to exist and retain their values between runs of the program.

2. <hardware> The length of time a phosphor dot on the screen of a cathode ray tube will remain illuminated after it has been energised by the electron beam. Long-persistence phosphors reduce flicker, but generate ghost-like images that linger on screen for a fraction of a second.