.. _method-coliny_ea-mutation_type:

"""""""""""""
mutation_type
"""""""""""""


Select a mutation type


.. toctree::
   :hidden:
   :maxdepth: 1

   method-coliny_ea-mutation_type-replace_uniform
   method-coliny_ea-mutation_type-offset_normal
   method-coliny_ea-mutation_type-offset_cauchy
   method-coliny_ea-mutation_type-offset_uniform
   method-coliny_ea-mutation_type-non_adaptive


**Specification**

- *Alias:* None

- *Arguments:* None

- *Default:* offset_normal


**Child Keywords:**

+-------------------------+--------------------+---------------------+---------------------------------------------+
| Required/Optional       | Description of     | Dakota Keyword      | Dakota Keyword Description                  |
|                         | Group              |                     |                                             |
+=========================+====================+=====================+=============================================+
| Required (Choose One)   | Mutation Type      | `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              |
+----------------------------------------------+---------------------+---------------------------------------------+

.. __: method-coliny_ea-mutation_type-replace_uniform.html
__ method-coliny_ea-mutation_type-offset_normal.html
__ method-coliny_ea-mutation_type-offset_cauchy.html
__ method-coliny_ea-mutation_type-offset_uniform.html
__ method-coliny_ea-mutation_type-non_adaptive.html



**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.