Programming Concepts Beginner

What is Algorithm?

A step-by-step procedure for solving a problem or performing a computation, defined as a finite sequence of instructions.

Algorithms are the foundation of computer science. They define how to solve problems efficiently. Key properties include correctness (produces right output), efficiency (time and space complexity), and finiteness (terminates).

Common algorithm types include sorting (quicksort, mergesort), searching (binary search), graph algorithms (Dijkstra, BFS/DFS), dynamic programming, and greedy algorithms. Algorithm efficiency is measured using Big O notation.

Learn More About This Topic

Java Programming for Complete Beginners

Related reading

JavaScript ES6+ Modern Features

Related reading

JavaScript Fundamentals

Related reading

Related Terms

The practice of designing application programming interfaces that are consistent, intuitive, and maintainable for developers to consume.

Twelve-Factor App

A methodology of twelve best practices for building modern, scalable, maintainable software-as-a-service applications.

An efficient search algorithm that finds a target value in a sorted array by repeatedly dividing the search interval in half.

A mathematical notation that describes the worst-case performance of an algorithm as input size grows.

Version Control

A system that records changes to files over time, allowing you to recall specific versions, collaborate, and track history.

Regex (Regular Expression)

A sequence of characters that defines a search pattern, used for string matching, validation, and text manipulation.

View All Programming Concepts Terms →