[kanwisher]

It’s used in software for sequencing in protocols so stuff doesn’t get repeated

[selimthegrim]

Also cryptography.

[Beldin]

Sure, but there it's generally understood to mean "Number used Once".

[thaumasiotes]

Huh? I immediately assumed the use in cryptography was related to... the normal use. Compare https://www.etymonline.com/word/nonce-word :

> "word coined for a special occasion," and not likely to be wanted again, 1884, from nonce "for a particular purpose" + word (n.).

And despite what you say, I still feel certain that's what's going on. The meaning is identical.

[selimthegrim]

Sure but I thought above comment meant sequencing in genetic sense so it bore clarifying