What exactly is an algorithm? Algorithms explained | BBC Ideas

What is an algorithm? You may be familiar with the idea in the context of Instagram, YouTube or Facebook, but it can feel like a big, abstract concept. Here’s presenter Jon Stroud with a step-by-step guide to what algorithms actually are, what algorithms do, and how algorithms work.

Made by Jist Studios.

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[bbcideas]

If you think of any other buzzwords that are used all the time but most people don’t actually know what they mean, let us know 👇

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[RollingEasy]

I'm a welder.... I got very tired of welding 'daylight' when it came to the welding of nodes or intersections of pipes of different sizes and at different angles. No matter how carefully each piece was cut by the fabricator, there would always be gaps and sometimes big I started writing algorithms which produced the template patterns needed and these templates were accurate to less than .040". I spent years writing algorithms which gave answers to every conceivable piping intersection or connection or transition or offset or whatever was humanly possible in this area. All on a pocket computer which proved its magic on any worksite anywhere. And never again did I ever have to weld 'daylight'.

[AZ-cpcf]

3:56 Data goes in, goes through instructions, result comes out
4:16 What is the difference between an algorithm and code?
7:11 Algorithm are actually remarkably simple

[ememsoughtafter]

I love this. Very simple to understand and thanks for the work you put in meeting each person to explain.

[noorparwan]

Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi
Persian mathematician, Changed Humanity Once and For All, He Deserves Our Respect,

[johnlinehan]

Jon, YOU are the FIRST human(almost) that truly speaks my language! I am a Myers Briggs INFJ and that may be the reason. May you be blessed in all of your endeavors. Sincere thanks, John, Dallas, Tx 74 y/o

[ThuongLe-gunc]

What an insightful video! Thank you so much for your sharing. You have done a lot of research and interviews with algorithm experts. What I learn from your video is that algorithms are a set of instructions. They help us to find related information in the search engines quickly and effectively. People should not be frightened of algorithms because they are beneficial to us. More importantly, we should learn how to utilize them in the proper manner.

[matrix]

Thanks To The Greatest Ever Mathematician Mohammad Musa Of Iraq Who Introduced Algorithm....

[idafox]

I love how easy the video is to follow . So imformational yet simple to understand

[cristybello]

This video is so insightful and necessary! It has made the subject totally clear with such an understandable detailed explanation!! Btw, I absolutely love your hair! It is gorgeous! Please never cut it☺️

[rawasalah]

I love how you guys make it so easy to understand

[CynthiaAmadi-vxcb]

I love this video. It was very clear, easy to understand.

[blumoon]

OH MY GOD man thanks so much for this video, ive searched forever trying to figure out and understand how the hell algorithms and data structures are linked to programming!!

[wistfulvista]

Well done. The visual example of the drones, the woman's absolute confidence in human futility....that's life.

[abdulrehman-xwjo]

The word "algorithm" comes from 8th century *Muslim mathematician, Al Khwarizmi.* he is the inventor of algorithm.

[frankpeck]

BBC Ideas...Thank you, for a very educational Tutorial/Education! Greetings, from Northern Kentucky, USA

[KrystalMoran-uf]

You explained this in such an easy way!

[Jay-iwrp]

I can’t thank you enough you’re actually the best absolutely amazing channel

[harveyda]

"They're everywhere! Apparently" Me whenever people ask about my friends

[helmiabdulhamid]

Algorithms can also be mathematical with total absence of computers. The term "YouTube algorithm" or "TikTok algorithm" or "whatever algorithm" for that matter is inaccurate but has been accepted to explain "operationalized AI models" mostly in the form of "recommendation systems" aka "recommender systems". Algorithms simply are the building blocks of those "models" or "AI models". For the lay, the term "algorithm" has been deemed to be perhaps the most understandable. Algorithms can also refer to completed programming codes or scripts which may or may not use "historical data".