Algorithms are step-by-step instructions like cooking recipes or user manuals that help to achieve a specific goal. Computers also apply algorithms. In this case, they are a set of programmed rules telling the programme how to deal with data.

Due to algorithms, a large amount of data can be processed quickly. That is why search engines use algorithms to search for objects containing the search term. Algorithms also determine the order in which the search results are displayed. To do so, the algorithm checks several characteristics of the websites and then ranks them according to a predefined rule. Algorithms are also responsible for the purchase recommendations on online platforms or streaming services. They make use of the user data stored online to calculate what a person might like.

Algorithms can be further developed, so that they learn how to create new patterns of data processing themselves. This refers to machine learning or artificial intelligence (A.I.). You can read on about A.I. in this article. Furthermore, you can work through a learning module on artificial intelligence (only available in German) in the focus modules provided by fit4internet.