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Q&A What is the difference between method and algorithm?

I would say, in plain English, a "method" is an approach to accomplishing something without any guarantee of success. An "algorithm" implies greater accuracy, dealing with well-defined and consist...

posted 6y ago by Amadeus‭  ·  last activity 4y ago by System‭

Answer
#4: Attribution notice removed by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-19T22:13:27Z (over 4 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/37186
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#3: Attribution notice added by user avatar System‭ · 2019-12-08T09:12:56Z (over 4 years ago)
Source: https://writers.stackexchange.com/a/37186
License name: CC BY-SA 3.0
License URL: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/
#2: Initial revision by (deleted user) · 2019-12-08T09:12:56Z (over 4 years ago)
I would say, in plain English, a "method" is an approach to accomplishing something without any guarantee of success.

An "algorithm" implies greater accuracy, dealing with well-defined and consistent objects with a greater certainty of reaching a specific goal.

The terms are definitely confused in usage between these two things, but in general I think this would be a good division of meaning between the two.

e.g. I could have a general method for dealing with employee conflicts, but it doesn't rise to an "algorithm" because people and their conflicts are too varied to produce a step-by-step solution that always works. Each situation requires individualized understanding and thought. There is no "one size fits all" solution.

Whereas, something like a recipe for baking a cake is very much an algorithm, the ingredients and methods are very well-defined, and following the instructions precisely without error will result in a cake.

#1: Imported from external source by user avatar System‭ · 2018-06-24T14:06:34Z (almost 6 years ago)
Original score: 1