Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
Time complexity refers to the amount of time it takes for an algorithm to run, as the size of the input increases. It indicates how efficiently an algorithm solves a problem.
Related terms
Space Complexity: This term refers to the amount of memory or storage space that an algorithm requires to solve a problem.
Big O Notation: This notation describes the upper bound or worst-case scenario of an algorithm's time complexity.