What is an algorithm?

An algorithm is a set of steps that can be followed to complete a task. There are lots of examples of algorithms that we follow or use in our everyday lives. Algorithms are used to solve the many problems that the world is faced with on a day to day basis. For example, when we travel along busy roads each day to work or school, there are hundreds of vehicles on the road. Roads constantly intersect each other and a system needed to be put in place to manage this. Traffic lights were invented to manage this problem. One could ask how the traffic lights know when to change. The answer is using an algorithm. Taking into account the time of day, how much traffic is building up and whether there are pedestrians crossing, the algorithm works out which lights to change. This is one of the many examples of algorithms being used in our everyday lives.