Glossary

What is Algorithm?

An algorithm is a fixed set of steps a computer follows to carry out a task or make a choice.

An algorithm is simply a recipe: do this, then that, and reach a result. Your social media feed is put together by an algorithm. AI uses algorithms, but not every algorithm is AI. A simple sum follows an algorithm too.

What this means for you

The word is often made to sound scary, but it usually means nothing more than 'the rules the computer follows'. Handy for taking the mystery out of it.

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Last reviewed: 19 June 2026.