3. Algorithms in Daily Computing

Algorithms aren't just academic; they power every digital interaction you have.

• Search Engines (Google/Bing): Ranking algorithms determine which websites are most relevant to your query. They use complex sorting, indexing, and ranking metrics.
• Social Media Feeds (Facebook/Instagram): Recommendation algorithms decide the order and type of posts you see, maximizing engagement based on your historical behavior.
• GPS Navigation (Waze/Maps): These rely on graph traversal algorithms (like Dijkstra's) to find the shortest path or the fastest route between two points.
• Encryption: Cryptographic algorithms secure your transactions, emails, and online communications.
• Data Compression (Zipping files): Algorithms are used to reduce file sizes while ensuring the original data can be recovered perfectly.