This entire post arose when I was wondering what you call the kind of IR control command where one button is pushed repeatedly and the device cycles through several distinct states -- not just two -- in response. An example of this system is a TV remote with an INPUT button, where repeated pushes change the input to PC1, PC2, VGA, AV, Component. Those are not discrete commands, nor toggle commands, nor toggle bit commands. What are they called?

In favor of those who don't like my long post, I just erased the six paragraphs I wrote about other IR command types.

It’s a poly-jogging sequence command.

Response below written before all those paragraphs disappeared.
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"Discrete" just means "a command that performs one specific function".

"Toggle" typically applies to a "power" or "mute" command where it alternates between two distinct states, but you could still apply it without confusion to "input" or "sound mode" where there are distinct, but more than two, possibilities.

"Toggle bit" or "parity bit" delves down into the actual structure of the IR code. Certain formats, such as RC5/6/MM, have two forms of each command as a means to prevent accidental duplicate reception of commands. So if a device that uses toggle bits sees two "A" versions of a command in a row, it only performs that function once, and will wait until it sees a "B" version before performing that function again. And after that, it expects the "A" version again. Note that not all devices that use toggle bits actually REQUIRE them, for example Marantz basically ignores the toggle bit components of its RC6 code format.

Now as to your question... I don't actually know if there's a specific term beyond "toggle" applied to IR codes for what you're describing. You could say the code "steps through", or performs "sequential" functions. From a programming perspective you could say it is an "array" code.

In the end, it's probably just clearer to refer to them as toggle codes, or just not refer to them as anything specific at all, and instead concentrate on the "discrete" versions if necessary.

I like polyjoggling better, especially if it takes some jiggerypokery to make it happen.

Daniel, I had already written out what you wrote, though I don't know the terms very well since I've only run into a half dozen or so "parity bit" systems.

Funny. I don't print anything about other IR modes because my posts are always too long, and someone else does.

Are you trying to describe 'scrolling' through the inputs?

Jiggerpokery, indeed!

Cyclic?

No. I'm trying to find out if there is already a name for the kind of control setup where a single command scrolls through the inputs. That's close but not exactly the same thing.

'Falling, precipitously'?
'Dropping, like a rock'?
'Sliding'?

Let's call it 'avalanching'.

I have seen this referred to as 'stepping' through the inputs.

I first learned of the concept you are describing from a training for the Niles Intellicontrol back 20 something years ago. Niles called it an “input toggle” when a single command cycled through multiple states. Commonly the definition of a toggle is viewed as between 2 objects, states, settings, etc. The alternative to this is when used as an intransitive verb. This type of verb does not allow only one object to follow and is not limited to two.

Toggle
verb(intransitive)
To alternate between two or more electronic, mechanical, or computer-related options, usually by the operation of a single switch or keystroke: toggled back and forth between two windows on the screen.

So back to the original question, I think you’re good to call it a toggle. I feel like Niles has enough IR historical prowess to use their definition.