Know the Difference Between Algorithm and Program

Algorithm is a step by step logical approach and program is a set of instructions for a given task.If you want to know more about this then read this article.

An algorithm can be defined as a systematic approach to solving a specific problem. An understanding of algorithms is essential for programmers to program more efficiently. It is equally important for programmers to understand the difference between algorithms and programs for optimizing a program according to the available resources. In this article, we will look at each term’s definitions and explore the difference between algorithm and program.

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What is an Algorithm?

An algorithm is a step-by-step and logical approach that defines a systematic process for computers to solve a specific problem. It consists of a set of rules defining how a task will be executed to get the expected results. Algorithms are conceptual and can be described using language or flowcharts. We can implement them in different programming languages​​. When we use a computer to solve a specific problem, we need to tell these steps to the solution clearly to the computer.

For example, here’s an algorithm to add two numbers:

Start   Take two number inputs Add both the numbers using the + operator Display the result End

Characteristics of an Algorithm

1. An algorithm should be unambiguous.
2. It should take well-defined inputs.
3. The algorithm should take well-defined outputs.
4. It should be simple, generic, and can be executed using the available resources.
5. The algorithm must be finite.
6. It must be language-independent.

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Types of Algorithms

Here are the most popular type of algorithms:

1. Recursive Algorithm – The Algorithm will call itself repeatedly until the problem is solved. Example: Computing factorials
2. Greedy Algorithm – Algorithms that are used for solving optimization problems. Example: Huffman tree
3. Brute Force Algorithm – It is one of the simplest algorithms in the concept. It iterates all possible solutions to search for one or more possible solutions that may solve a function. Example: Matching algorithm
4. Backtracking Algorithm – This algorithm follows an incremental approach to finding a solution to a problem. The algorithm will solve problems recursively. It will find a solution to a problem by solving one piece of the problem at a time. If one of the solutions fails, it is removed, and the algorithm backtracks to find another solution. Example: Queens Problem
5. Divide and Conquer Algorithm – As the name suggests, the algorithm is divided into two parts. The first part divides the problem into smaller subproblems of the same type. In the second part, these smaller problems are solved and then combined to produce the final solution to the problem. Example: Merge sort

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What is a Program?

A program is a set of instructions a computer follows to perform a specified task. Many programming languages can be used to write computer programs. Some popular programming languages include Python, Java, C++, JavaScript, PHP, and Ruby. These high-level programming languages are human-readable and writable. These languages are converted into low-level machine languages by compilers, interpreters, and assemblers within the computer system.

A program tells the computer how to accept input, manipulate that input, and display the output in some form that humans find useful.

For Example, in a word processor:

• The input will be the characters you type from the keyboard
• The program will format the text and correct the spelling
• Well-organized will be displayed on the screen as output

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Algorithm vs Program: Difference Between Program and Algorithm

Computer algorithms solve the problem while computer programs implement them in a form that a computer can execute. Here are the main differences between algorithms and programs:

Algorithm	Program
It is a well-defined, step-by-step, logical procedure for solving a given problem.	It refers to a set of instructions for a computer to follow. A program can implement many algorithms, or a program can even contain no algorithms.
An algorithm provides abstract steps for processing one sequence of related information into a different sequence of derived information.	The constituents of a program may not be conceptually related.
It is written using plain English language and can be understood by those from a non-programming background.	It could be written in any programming language, such as Python, Java, C++, JavaScript, or any other language, depending on the particular task the program is designed for.
It can be expressed in natural language, flow charts, pseudocode, and various programming languages.	We write computer programs in a computer language. Then a compiler or interpreter translates it into a language that any computer system understands.
An algorithm can be executed by a person.	A program is always executed by a computer.

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Conclusion

So, this was all about the difference between algorithms and programming. We learned that the main difference is between the two is that an algorithm is a step-by-step procedure for solving the problem, while programming is a set of instructions for a computer to follow to perform a task. A program could also be an implementation of code to instruct a computer on how to execute an algorithm.