Algorithm

An algorithm is a defined procedure for turning inputs into results through a sequence of operations or rules.

Plan for this page

Understand one concept in plain language and connect it to nearby ideas.

You will leave with: Algorithms can be written directly by people, learned partly from data, or combined in a larger system. Ordinary sorting and route calculation use algorithms, as do the training and inference procedures behind machine-learning systems.
Time: 3–8 min
Before you begin: No prerequisite. Keep one real example in mind.
Do this now: Read the explanation, then compare the example with the common misunderstanding.

Prepared next stepStudy models, training, and inference

AlgorithmAn algorithm is a defined procedure for turning inputs into results through a sequence of operations or rules.

Artificial intelligence
Training
Inference

Plain explanation

Algorithms can be written directly by people, learned partly from data, or combined in a larger system. Ordinary sorting and route calculation use algorithms, as do the training and inference procedures behind machine-learning systems.

Example

A recipe for sorting names alphabetically is an algorithm: it defines which names to compare and how to order them until the list is complete.

Why it matters

Calling something an algorithm says little about whether it learns or uses AI. Inspect the procedure, data, objective, decisions, and consequences instead of treating the word as mysterious authority.

Common misunderstanding

Misconception: every algorithm is AI. Correction: many algorithms follow fixed, human-specified operations and do not learn patterns from data.

Related concepts

Follow relationships, not only the alphabet

Artificial intelligenceArtificial intelligence is a field and family of systems that infer how to produce outputs from inputs in pursuit of explicit or implicit objectives.TrainingTraining is the process of adjusting a model to improve performance on an objective using data, feedback, or interaction.InferenceInference is running a trained model on an input to produce a prediction, generation, score, or other output.

Study models, training, and inference

Sources and scope

What supports this object

Elements of AI: Introduction to AIUniversity of Helsinki and MinnaLearn

Introduces algorithms and AI conceptually for non-programmers; it is an educational route rather than a specification for every implementation.

Open source

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