What is the EXACT meaning of an algorythm

ok so everywhere i go i hear about algorythim's but what exactly is an algorythm and what does it do, is it like an exploit, can someone point me in the direction to a really good explanation or tell me in as much detail as possible, it may also help the noobs like myself, i really dont understand what it means, please help :)

Zub a.k.a Scallie-lad :)

An algorithm is a mathematical function, which takes some form of input (a number, a text string etc), runs it through one or more functions and then returns the new value.

A good example of algorithms in the hacking world are all hash algorithms, like MD5, SHA-1 and DES.

You can read more on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Algorithm

lol, I was actually asked a similar question on a quiz I had to do in computer science class, and I was like, 'wtf'? I think I just said something like 'a rule that does something to turn it into something else'.

It's real mean stands for Muḥammad ibn Musa Al Khwarizmi, an arabic old scientist in Algebra.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Muhammad_ibn_M%C5%ABs%C4%81_al-Khw%C4%81rizm%C4%AB

Btw: > The words algorism and algorithm stem from algoritmi, the Latinization of his name. His name is also the origin of the Spanish word guarismo and of the Portuguese word algarismo, both meaning digit.

You are a programmer, and you have a problem, you think, formulate then code.

Algorithms comes in the formulating step before writting the code, you express your solution of the problem as steps with an understandable, easy to read human language (English), think of it as a written flow chart.

Algorithms are not only used in programming though, but that's how I know it.

Also, try googling psuedocode.

Computer scientist use Pseudo-code to express algorithms:

• English like constructs (or other natural language) but
• modelled to look like statements in typical programming languages.
• Not actually executed on computers
• Allows us to think out a program before writing the code for it

Example: the problem-> Given the radius of circle, determine the area and circumference

Algorithm

get radius set area to (radius * radius * 3.14) print area set circumference to (2 * radius * 3.14) print circumference

do NOT mistake an Algorithm to be the same Pseudocode by definition.

Algorithm http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=GGt&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=define:algorithm&spell=1

Pseudocode http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=swD&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=define:pseudocode&spell=1

@egyption "Pseudo-code to express algorithms" doesnt mean they are the same thing mate. your getting confuesed.

wikipedia is good or even a quick google for it

@mido. yea but that doesnt mean algorithm means that wat you said was totaly pointless

let's all give up on trying to explain it to him, and run to the hills!

my mistake. so as to not confuse the asker, algorithms are the plain steps,the procedure itself, it can be expressed in different ways (human language, or psuedocode or flowcharts…).