Why Do We Use ‘Algorithms’ in Everyday Life and How Did They Start?

We use algorithms every day because they help us solve problems faster and easier, like following a recipe to make our favorite cookies.

Imagine you're trying to get from your house to the park. You could just walk randomly until you see the park, that’s fun sometimes! But if you follow a map or a set of directions, like “turn left at the big tree,” “walk straight for two blocks,” and “then turn right at the red door,” you’ll get there faster every time. That’s what an algorithm is: it's just a clear step-by-step plan to help you do something.

Long ago, people started using algorithms when they needed help with math problems or counting things. One of the first known people who used algorithms was a man named Al-Khwarizmi, that’s where the word algorithm even came from!

He wrote down steps to solve equations, kind of like writing instructions for someone else to follow. Today, we use these same ideas in computers and phones, they follow algorithms so you can play games, watch videos, or even send messages to your friends!