Written by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 examโขWritten by the Fiveable Content Team โข Last updated September 2025
Definition
Complex algorithms are sets of instructions or procedures designed to solve intricate problems or perform complex tasks. They often involve multiple steps, decision-making processes, and data manipulation techniques.
Recursion is a technique used in algorithms where a function calls itself repeatedly until it reaches a base case. It allows for elegant solutions to certain problems by breaking them down into smaller subproblems.
Sorting algorithms are used to arrange elements in a specific order, such as ascending or descending. Examples include bubble sort, insertion sort, and quicksort.
Search Algorithms: Search algorithms are used to find specific elements within a collection of data. Examples include linear search, binary search, and depth-first search (DFS).