We may earn an affiliate commission when you visit our partners.

Algorithmic Complexity

Save
May 1, 2024 3 minute read

Algorithmic complexity, often abbreviated as time complexity, is a measure of how much time an algorithm takes to run. It is typically measured in terms of the number of operations that the algorithm performs, and is expressed using asymptotic notation such as O(n), O(log n), or O(n2). Algorithmic complexity is important because it can help you to understand how efficient an algorithm is, and to compare different algorithms to find the most efficient one for a given task.

What is algorithmic complexity?

Algorithmic complexity is a measure of how much time an algorithm takes to run. It is typically measured in terms of the number of operations that the algorithm performs, and is expressed using asymptotic notation such as O(n), O(log n), or O(n2). The letter n in this notation represents the size of the input to the algorithm.

For example, an algorithm with a time complexity of O(n) means that the algorithm will take n operations to run on an input of size n. An algorithm with a time complexity of O(log n) means that the algorithm will take log2(n) operations to run on an input of size n. And an algorithm with a time complexity of O(n2) means that the algorithm will take n2 operations to run on an input of size n.

Why is algorithmic complexity important?

Share

Help others find this page about Algorithmic Complexity: by sharing it with your friends and followers:

Reading list

We've selected 20 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Algorithmic Complexity.
A modern textbook focusing on the design and analysis of algorithms, providing a strong foundation in algorithmic complexity.
This advanced textbook provides a modern and comprehensive treatment of computational complexity theory, with a focus on the latest research results.
A textbook in German providing a comprehensive overview of algorithmic complexity, including advanced topics such as NP-completeness and approximation algorithms.
A comprehensive textbook providing a unified approach to algorithmic complexity theory, covering both deterministic and randomized algorithms.
A collection of classic essays on the mathematical foundations of computer science, including a section on algorithmic complexity.
A thorough exploration of the techniques used in analyzing the complexity of algorithms, suitable for advanced undergraduates and graduate students.
This textbook presents a systematic treatment of approximation algorithms for NP-hard problems, which are problems that are computationally difficult to solve exactly.
This specialized textbook provides an in-depth introduction to the theory of parameterized complexity, which is used to analyze algorithms that run efficiently on certain problem parameters.
This comprehensive textbook presents a balanced coverage of both algorithms and data structures, with a focus on their practical applications.
A textbook covering the fundamental concepts of computer science, including algorithmic complexity and data structures.
Provides a comprehensive overview of the theory of hardness of approximation, which is used to prove that certain approximation algorithms cannot be efficient.
A textbook that explores the theoretical foundations of complexity theory, including undecidable problems and the limits of computation.
A textbook covering the foundational concepts of theoretical computer science, including algorithmic complexity and computability theory.
Explores the concept of Kolmogorov complexity, which measures the algorithmic complexity of objects.
A specialized textbook focusing on parameterized complexity theory, a subfield of algorithmic complexity that studies the complexity of problems with additional parameters.
Table of Contents
Our mission

OpenCourser helps millions of learners each year. People visit us to learn workspace skills, ace their exams, and nurture their curiosity.

Our extensive catalog contains over 50,000 courses and twice as many books. Browse by search, by topic, or even by career interests. We'll match you to the right resources quickly.

Find this site helpful? Tell a friend about us.

Affiliate disclosure

We're supported by our community of learners. When you purchase or subscribe to courses and programs or purchase books, we may earn a commission from our partners.

Your purchases help us maintain our catalog and keep our servers humming without ads.

Thank you for supporting OpenCourser.

© 2016 - 2025 OpenCourser