Table of Contents

Overview

In this tutorial, we will learn about different types of algorithms and classify them based on problem-solving techniques.

Types of Algorithms

Some types of algorithms are as follows:

Brute force algorithm
Recursive algorithm
Divide & Conquer algorithm
Backtracking algorithm
Greedy algorithm
Dynamic programming algorithm
Randomized algorithm

Brute force algorithm

A brute force algorithm tries all the possibilities until a satisfactory solution is found.

Recursive algorithm

A recursive algorithm is an algorithm that calls itself in its own steps. A recursive algorithm does the following:

It solves the base case/s directly. A base case is a straightforward case that doesn’t use recursion.
Calls itself using a simple subproblem
Performs some work to convert the solution to the
subproblem into a solution to the actual given problem

Divide & Conquer algorithm

A divide & conquer algorithm consists of two parts:

Divide the problem into smaller sub-problems, and solve these sub-problems recursively
Combine the solutions to the subproblems into a solution to the original problem

Backtracking algorithm

The backtracking algorithm explores all possible choices or decisions one at a time and then “backtracks” from a choice that does not lead to a valid solution.

Dynamic programming algorithm

A dynamic programming algorithm uses memoization. It remembers past results and uses them to find new results. Dynamic programming algorithms are generally used for optimization problems.

Greedy algorithm

A greedy algorithm works in phases. At each phase:

Take the best that you can get at that moment, without regard for
future consequences
Hope that by choosing a local optimum at each step, you will end up at a global optimum