What is an Algorithm?
From sorting a playlist to recommending a movie, algorithms are the invisible engines of our digital world. Let's take a journey down the digital assembly line to see how they work.
The Input: Raw Materials
Every algorithm starts with something to work on. This is the Input, or the "raw materials." It can be a list of numbers to sort, a photo to analyze, or millions of customer data points.
The Process: A Step-by-Step Recipe
This is the algorithm itself. To make it concrete, let's use the analogy of a recipe.
Analogy: The PB&J Algorithm
An algorithm is simply a step-by-step set of instructions for completing a task.
Ingredients (The Data)
- 2 Slices of Bread
- Peanut Butter & Jelly
Instructions (The Algorithm)
Lay two slices of bread flat on a surface.
Spread peanut butter evenly on one slice.
Spread jelly evenly on the other slice.
Place the two slices together, spreads facing inward.
The Translation: From Recipe to Code
Computers follow the same logic, but their "recipe" is written in code.
function make_sandwich(bread1, bread2, pb, jelly) {
spread(bread1, pb);
spread(bread2, jelly);
return combine(bread1, bread2);
}
The Output: The Finished Product
After the process is complete, you get the Output. It's the sorted list, the tag on the photo, or the movie recommendation. The input has been transformed into a useful result.