Part 30 of 45 in AI Foundations: From Curious to Confident
What is an Algorithm?
An algorithm is a step-by-step recipe a computer follows to solve a problem. A plain-language explainer, part of our Learn AI path.
Just like a recipe lists the steps to bake a cake, an algorithm is a clear list of steps a computer follows to get a job done. Follow the steps in order and you get the right result every time.
The key ideas
- An algorithm is a step-by-step set of instructions.
- Computers follow algorithms to solve problems.
- The right steps in the right order give the right result.
Why it matters
Algorithms is one small piece of a much bigger picture. Once you can spot it in the world around you, the rest of Artificial Intelligence starts to make far more sense — each idea builds on the last, from everyday examples up to how the technology actually works under the hood.
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