What do you know about algorithms in programming

We often hear the term software algorithms, and they have become the main engine of operational processes in any system or digital product that we use. Accordingly, algorithms have become a necessary thing that every programmer should be familiar with. What is meant by algorithms in programming And what is its importance

What are software algorithms

Algorithms in their general concept are defined as a set of logical steps to solve a particular problem, differing depending on the thinking of the one who takes on the task of solving the problem. It can be very similar to a traffic light panel, as a set of steps and rules are developed for how to control the panel up to the stage when the appropriate light appears according to the achieved condition

Algorithms in programming are a set of specific instructions that must be followed to build and design programs and computer processes. It is worth noting that algorithms are part of the programming teachings, their wording varies depending on the programming language, and the output will be the same in all cases

Software algorithms are also defined as a software construct of an imperative character, in the sense that they are computer instructions in the form of command verbs in conditional sentence form: “if____; do ____”. If you want the computer to perform a certain operation, the execution method must tell it detailed steps to execute what you want according to the specified path

The history of the use of algorithmics in programming dates back to 1936, when “Alan Turing” outlined a foundational concept for computer scientists in his research paper on the Turing machine, and explained that problems can be disassembled and solved quickly, by machines that implement algorithms to perform sequential operations up to a specific answer

For example, when we write a simple program to calculate the equation 2×9 ÷8

We start the first step by checking that the denominator is not equal to zero, if it is؛

In the next step we find the product of multiplication by 9×2

Finally we calculate the division product

How algorithms work

Algorithms consist of an initial input with a set of instructions and rules. The input forms the initial data necessary for the execution of the algorithm and obtaining the output, and the output forms the last step in the algorithm. And to simplify the way it works even more, imagine the following scenario

A game between two people, one of whom sets a number and asks the other person to guess that number, telling him a certain range within which the specified number falls, and to help him after each wrong guess by giving him a hint whether the specified number (output) is greater than the guess or smaller than it (input)

If we want to solve this simple problem in the usual way, we will rely on trial and error and consume all attempts-which represent the range within which the specified number falls - until we find the correct guess. This method is okay, but it is useless and consumes unnecessary time while it can be solved in simpler ways

By developing an algorithm to solve the problem, we can shorten the time and effort, and depending on the data, the conditions of the game make it possible to know the location of the number after each wrong guess, and therefore our algorithm will rely mainly on reducing the range of numbers after each guess and excluding the numbers that do not fall within this range to reach the final result

This has reduced the number of attempts to reach the correct answer to almost a third and increased your chances of a correct and quick answer

What is its importance in programming

Algorithms have made a great breakthrough in the field of software and contributed a lot to its development, and although algorithms are an independent science that originated much earlier than the computer, they are used in almost all parts of the computer. Below we explain the most prominent uses of algorithms in programming

 Ordering and sorting of information

The importance of algorithms in programming comes from the fact that they help to enhance the efficiency of programs and improve their use of available resources and inputs, no matter how many, by producing accurate results that help solve problems faster and more efficiently

The process of sorting information, in a logical order to present it better and more appropriately, is a challenge that is often solved by special algorithms. The most prominent example of this is the use of algorithms in the results of search engines such as Google, so millions of results are arranged and sorted according to the user's needs and the results are similar to the rules of SEO

 Recommendation systems

Algorithms in programming, to name a few, play a big role in how social media works and controls the appearance of appropriate content and ads according to the user's data and personality, as all these decisions are made and driven by algorithms from behind the curtain

Sites such as Amazon and Netflix also use collaborative filtering algorithms that look at uses and user data to find out their interests and tastes and then make suggestions and recommendations for purchases and TV shows they might like

 Fast data processing

Software algorithms help programs process billions of information with unprecedented speed and accuracy. For example, applications such as Google Maps need to calculate routes through cities, taking into account distance, traffic and accidents, to determine the best routes that the user should take. To solve this problem, these applications often resort to using the Dijkstra algorithm, which is concerned with solving the problem of finding the shortest path between two distances

Methods of representation of algorithms

An algorithm is only a thinking approach and a logical representation of the steps until you reach the result, so there are several methods used in writing algorithms and modeling them to become readable, understandable and participatory, we mention some of them as follows

 Flowcharts 

Flowcharts, or as process flowcharts are known, are used to represent algorithms through pre-agreed forms, such as The Shape of the circle that represents the beginning of the process scheme (program) and its end, the shape of the geometric rhombus that represents a decision-making step, and The Shape of the lines that represent the direction of the logical course of operations

 Formal or pseudo-code 

Formal codes or pseudo-code are used to describe algorithms and represent them by defining the form of incoming inputs and the resulting output with a set of steps written in a smooth human language that anyone can understand, which is why they are called by this name, as the method of writing them and detailing them with steps is written in such a way that any reader can understand them by formulating simple non-programmatic sentences. The aim is to document the program and facilitate the exchange of information

What are the types of algorithms and their uses

Due to the different problems and the multiplicity of ways to solve them, there are many different types of algorithms classified according to several factors, such as their classification according to the method of implementation, optimization method or degree of complexity, the following are some types of algorithms classified according to the design method and the principle of construction

Brute force algorithms 

It is the simplest type of software algorithms, and it is a direct way to solve problems that does not care about the speed of performance, but relies on computational power and trying all possible solutions to the answer regardless of the costs, namely time and space in the case of programming. Brute-force algorithms are used, for example, to find the smallest number in a given matrix; the algorithm goes through all the numbers in order, and then at the end reaches the smallest number

 Divide and conquer algorithms 

This type is based on the method of dividing the basic problem or issue into smaller sub-issues, and then providing solutions to those issues in order to eventually find a solution to the basic issue. The divide-and-conquer methodology is used when the same subproblem is not addressed several times

The most prominent example of this type is the binary search algorithm, where the search process begins by checking the value of the middle of the array to determine the correct search path, if that value is equal to what we are looking for; the search process stops immediately. If the value of the middle is greater than the value of what we are looking for, then we exclude the upper half of the matrix in the next search. So you break the problem down into smaller problems until you find a solution

Randomized algorithms 

You have a predefined number of outputs and inputs, the algorithm uses an arbitrary number to decide its workflow in the next steps and find approximate solutions to problems that do not need accurate results, such as using it to randomly change the positions of Matrix elements, to name a few

Randomized algorithms are usually used in cases that require reducing time complexity, such as password suggestion issues and captcha code generation

 Greedy algorithms 

This method is concerned with finding the best solution that is currently available, without bothering to search and categorize to reach the optimal option. This type of algorithm is easier to set up, and it usually takes less time in its work. However, they are used in specific cases, such as processing internet network protocols to reduce the waiting time taken, and Hoffman coding

The regressive algorithm 

The backtracking algorithm model is used to solve problems in a recursive way, trying to build the solution incrementally piece by piece, deleting solutions that do not meet the requirements of the problem, so the options are constantly reduced until we reach the optimal one. The best example of using this method is solving a Sudoku game problem in which you need to fill in the numbers in the table sequentially, and if you find out that the current number does not lead to the solution; delete it and try the next number

Search and ranking algorithms rely on testing all the possibilities and checking whether any of the possibilities provides a solution to the problem, and rely mainly on two algorithms, the first to sort the items in ascending order, and then directly search each item within the algorithm. It includes many types, such as: linear search, exponential search, and others

How can you learn algorithms

Programming is a tool or system that implements algorithms through instructions written according to specific rules and conditions. So learning algorithms and how they work will help you develop analytical thinking and problem solving skills

If you train your brain to understand algorithmic logic, programming will become easier and you will see each problem as a set of smaller problems that use algorithms to simplify them

You can learn algorithms by reading books and articles and attending educational courses that address the topic and explain it through real applications, such as the computer science course from hassoub Academy, during which you will learn to think logically, write algorithms and analyze them, and you will apply the concepts you have learned in practice to different types of algorithms; what will put you on the right track in your educational and professional programming path

In conclusion, we can say that algorithms have become a necessary thing in all walks of life until our current era is described as the”age of algorithms”, and finally we note that it is important for anyone seeking to enter the field of software; familiarity with the science of algorithms and understanding the way it works to develop his logical thinking in solving the problems that will inevitably face him