Algorithm

Sequence of operations for a task

In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm is any well-defined set of instructions that when followed terminates after a finite number of steps that comprise a solution to a given computational problem. Advanced algorithms may utilize loops and involve many conditionals that decide the next step based on the inputs provided, resulting in long sequences of steps before halting, but all algorithms terminate by definition. In contrast to algorithms, heuristics might be applied to problems for which it is not possible for an algorithmic solution to exist, e.g., because the problem is undecidable or there is otherwise no way to define the correct or optimal result.

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