Glossary

Algorithm

An algorithm is a precise, ordered collection of instructions for solving a problem. The use of the term "algorithm" derives from the name of the 9th Century Persian mathematician al-Khwarizmi, who gave precise instructions for solving any given quadratic equation.

In the modern world, the term "algorithm" is most commonly applied in computation, where a problem may be solved by a general algorithm that runs on any given specific instance of the problem.

Wikipedia