Quick Answer
What is Algorithm?
An algorithm is a step-by-step procedure that takes an input and produces an output.
Software Development
Algorithm
By Glintr Editorial TeamReviewed by Glintr Learn ReviewersUpdated 5 min readArea: Software Development
Definition
Algorithms are the recipes that software follows to solve problems — from sorting a list to finding the shortest route in a map. They are analysed by correctness and by how their time and memory usage grow with the input size.
Real-world examples
- Binary search on a sorted list.
- Dijkstra's algorithm for shortest paths.
- PageRank for ranking web pages.
Related Concepts
- APIAn API (Application Programming Interface) is a defined contract that lets one software system talk to another.
- Software DevelopmentSoftware Development is the practice of designing, building, testing and maintaining computer programs.
- ProgrammingProgramming is the act of writing instructions in a language a computer can execute.