Author : Sourya Tadapaneni

Whenever we hear the word algorithm we perceive it to be something mysterious and complex. However, not all algorithms are complicated and robot-like. Algorithms are simple step by step instructions for completing a task or solving a problem.

You can think of an algorithm as a recipe for baking a cake. Whenever you follow a recipe you are performing a series of steps such as preheating the oven and mixing the ingredients. If you do the steps correctly you will end up with a cake. Computers and algorithms work in the same aspect however they do not use flour or sugar instead they use data.

Algorithms are the heart of every program in computer science. For example they tell the computer what to do in which order. Without algorithms, your electronic devices such as your phone or your tv would not function properly.

Algorithms are not just used by programmers or software developers they are everywhere in your everyday life. For example in your gps finding the fastest route uses algorithms to do that task. Another example could be Netflix recommending you a show based on the shows you watched in the past.
So the next time you use a piece of technology, remember that behind every click, tap, or even search, there is an algorithm behind the scenes following its own recipe.