The Foundation of How Problems are Solved
Algorithms are a very important part of programming and development. An algorithm is essentially a step-by-step plan for solving a problem. It helps programmers think logically about what needs to be done before writing any code. This ensures that the program works correctly and efficiently.
In short, algorithms are the logic, and programming is the implementation of that logic.
Here are some common algorithms that every programmer should be familiar with. If the algorithm name is a hyperlink, then there is a page with a description of the algorithm (possibly with a basic code implementation example).
Note that some of the algorithms may be in multiple categories since they can be used for different purposes, or they may use multiple techniques to solve a problem.
Used to find specific data within a collection of data.
Used to arrange data in a specific order (e.g., ascending or descending).
A technique where a function calls itself to solve smaller instances of the same problem.
Algorithms that use random numbers to solve problems or shuffle data.
A strategy that breaks a problem into smaller subproblems, solves each subproblem, and combines the results.
Fundamental algorithms for manipulating numbers and strings.
Used to traverse or find paths in data structures like graphs and trees.
A method for solving complex problems by breaking them down into simpler overlapping subproblems.
Algorithms that make the locally optimal choice at each stage with the hope of finding a global optimum.
A technique used to map data of arbitrary size to fixed-size values (hashes) for efficient data retrieval.