Algorithms are step-by-step procedures or sets of rules designed to perform a specific task or solve a particular problem. In computing and data science, algorithms serve as the foundational building blocks for a wide array of applications, ranging from simple calculations and data sorting to more complex tasks like machine learning and artificial intelligence. An algorithm's efficacy is often measured by its speed and the amount of resources it requires, such as computational power and memory. Algorithms can exist in various forms, including mathematical equations, flowcharts, or lines of code in computer programs. They are the hidden gears that power search engines, recommendation systems, and navigation apps, among many other technologies. Understanding algorithms and their properties is a critical aspect of computer science and engineering, but their impact extends far beyond technical fields, affecting economic systems, social networks, and even ethical considerations about fairness and equality. Given their ubiquitous role in shaping the modern world, algorithms are the subject of ongoing study, optimization, and debate.