Here’s a quick explanation of what they are, and how they work.
Image byIan Ruotsala
What’s an Algorithm?
Algorithms have a wide variety of applications.
Algorithms work like that.
Flowcharts are visual tools which can more understandably represent a set of instructions used by computers.
Similarly, algorithms help do the same with more math-based models.
Graphs
Let’s use a graph to illustrate the various ways we can give directions.
We can express this graph as a connection between all of its points.
to make it reproduce this image, we can give a set of instructions to someone else.
However, imagine a graph with a thousand points or multiple segments all going every which way.
That list would have a lot of data, right?
And then having to connect each one, one at a time, can be a pain.
you might also remember to plot a point after each movement.
Method 3
Let’s try doing this another way.
y=-3x+29, 7x10
Now, which method you pick depends on your abilities.
Maybe you’re great with math and graphing, so you choose the last option.
Maybe you’re good at navigating, so you choose the second option.
Therefore, algorithms are optimized for the tasks they complete.
Another important point to note is that each method relies on a key.
Each set of instructions is useless unless you know what to do with them.
That’s because what was stored on the disk as a .zip file was not in a usable form.
Think of a pull-out couch.
Compression algorithms are adjusted and optimized specifically for the types of files they are targeted to.
Data Encryption
Algorithms are also used when securing data or communication lines.
When data is encrypted, whatever is stored doesn’t look like what it is.
It usually looks random, as if fragmentation had built up over time.
you’re able to also store data and make it appear as another punch in of file.
