Algorithm

An algorithm is a set of clear, ordered steps that tell how to do something. You can think of it like a recipe in cooking—each step must be done in the right order to get the right result. For example, when you bake a cake, you mix the ingredients, pour them into a pan, and bake it. In the same way, a computer follows an algorithm to reach an answer.

Algorithms are not only used by computers. People use them in everyday life too. For instance, brushing your teeth, tying your shoes, or following directions to school are all small algorithms. The key idea is that each step must be done carefully, and in the right sequence, to achieve the goal. If you skip or change the steps, the result might not be what you expect.

In computer science, algorithms tell computers how to solve problems, from simple math to complex decisions. A sorting algorithm can arrange numbers from smallest to largest. A search algorithm helps find information quickly on the internet. When you type a question in a search engine, algorithms decide which answers are most helpful. Algorithms are what make computer programs useful, smart, and fast.

The word “algorithm” comes from the name of a Persian mathematician named Al-Khwarizmi, who lived over a thousand years ago. He wrote books that explained how to use numbers in new ways. His ideas helped create modern mathematics and inspired the word “algorithm.” Over time, his methods became the foundation for many rules that computers follow today.

To design an algorithm, computer scientists start by clearly defining a problem. Then they plan the steps that can lead to a solution. Good algorithms are efficient—they finish tasks quickly and use as few resources as possible. They also need to be accurate and repeatable, so they work the same way every time. When programmers test and improve algorithms, they are trying to make them faster and more reliable.

Algorithms are everywhere in our modern world. They help recommend movies on streaming apps, guide planes through the sky, and keep traffic lights running smoothly. They even help doctors analyze medical images. By learning how algorithms work, people can better understand how computers make decisions and how digital tools shape our daily lives.