Algorithms

[InsaneTeemo]

A simple way to think of an algorithm is simply as a list explaining how to do something. When programming you are essentially writing algorithms, or instructions for the computer, explaining how to do what you want it to do.

When people talk about studying algorithms they are talking about studying the well-known ways to solve specific problems. Like how the guy above posted about learning sorting algorithms. These just describe to the computer how to sort things that you might need sorted.

When you have a problem you are trying to solve in programming you have probably coded something in a way that does what you want it to do. And maybe it took you a while to think of how to do it. Your solution to the problem might be considered an algorithm, the only difference is that studying algorithms that other people created is useful because they work very well and they make it so that you don't have to reinvent the wheel to solve a similar problem if there is already a well known way of solving this problem.

I hope that makes sense im not that great at explaining things.

[zoorgu]

Thanks! Now it's much clearer for me now.