Dakota Reference Manual: mutation_type

| Dakota Reference Manual Version 6.15 Explore and Predict with Confidence

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mutation_type

Select a mutation type

## Specification

Alias: none

Argument(s): none

Default: offset_normal

Child Keywords:

| Required/Optional | Description of Group | Dakota Keyword | Dakota Keyword Description
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
| Required (Choose One) | Mutation Type (Group 1) | replace_uniform | Replace coordinate with randomly generated value
offset_normal | Set mutation offset to use a normal distribution
offset_cauchy | Use a Cauchy distribution for the mutation offset
offset_uniform | Set mutation offset to use a uniform distribution
| Optional | non_adaptive | Disable self-adaptive mutation

## Description

The `mutation_type` controls what approach is employed in randomly modifying continuous design variables within the EA population. Each of the mutation methods generates coordinate-wise changes to individuals, usually by adding a random variable to a given coordinate value (an `offset_*` mutation), but also by replacing a given coordinate value with a random variable (a `replace_*` mutation).

Discrete design variables are always mutated using the `offset_uniform` method.