A step-by-step procedure or formula for solving a problem or accomplishing some objective. In computing and mathematics, an algorithm is a finite sequence of well-defined instructions typically used for calculation, data processing, and automated reasoning. Algorithms are the foundation of all computer programs, and they determine the approach a computer takes to perform a specific task, such as sorting data, finding the shortest path in a network, or encrypting information. They can range from simple procedures, like a recipe for baking a cake, to complex operations, such as those used in machine learning and artificial intelligence.