Algorithm
/ˈælɡərɪðəm/
Definitions
A step-by-step procedure for solving a problem or accomplishing a task.
/ˈælɡərɪðəm/
A process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem-solving operations, especially by a computer.
The search engine uses a complex algorithm to rank web pages.
💡 Simply: A set of instructions to solve a problem.
More Examples
This algorithm efficiently sorts large datasets.
How It's Used
"The program uses a sophisticated algorithm to sort the data."
"We developed a new algorithm for solving complex equations."
From Latinized transliteration of the name of the 9th-century Persian mathematician Muḥammad ibn Mūsā al-Khwārizmī, whose work on arithmetic and algebra was highly influential in the West.
The term's modern usage is primarily linked to computer science, but its roots lie in mathematical procedures.
Memory tip
Think 'Al' (like in 'algorithm') as in 'all steps' in a procedure.