Chapter 1. Thinking Algorithmically

Algorithms matter! Knowing which algorithm to apply under which set of circumstances can make a big difference in the software you produce. Let this book be your guide to learning about a number of important algorithm domains, such as sorting and searching. We will introduce a number of general approaches used by algorithms to solve problems, such as Divide and Conquer or Greedy strategy. You will be able to apply this knowledge to improve the efficiency of your own software.

Data structures have been tightly tied to algorithms since the dawn of computing. In this book, you will learn the fundamental data structures used to properly represent information for efficient processing.

What do you need to do when choosing an algorithm? We’ll explore that in the following sections.