Algorithms, Decomposition & Abstraction1 / 25
What is an algorithm?
An algorithm is a set of instructions for solving a problem or completing a task.
Algorithms aren't just for computers — you follow them every day:
- A recipe for cooking (exact steps, in order)
- Directions to a friend's house
- The rules of a game
In computing, algorithms describe exactly how software processes information. There may be many different algorithms that solve the same problem — some are better than others.
Exam definition: 'A sequence of steps that can be followed to complete a task.' A program is an *implementation* of an algorithm, not the algorithm itself.