Algorithm
A step-by-step procedure for solving a problem or accomplishing a task.
An algorithm is a recipe for computation. Sorting a list of numbers, finding the shortest driving route, recommending a video to watch, and encrypting a message are all algorithms. Algorithm efficiency is measured in Big O notation — O(n) means time grows linearly with input size, O(n²) means it grows quadratically (much slower for large inputs). The algorithms behind search engines, social media feeds, and AI language models are among the most economically valuable intellectual property in history.