Greedy algorithm

How it is used

Common in algorithm classes and technical discussions about optimization. It is useful when local decisions work well, but it does not guarantee the best answer in every problem.

Example sentences

1. For the scheduling prototype, we tried a greedy algorithm that always assigned the next task to the earliest available worker.

   Here, greedy algorithm means a step-by-step method making the best immediate assignment without exploring all future combinations.

2. The interview problem looked simple, but the greedy algorithm missed the optimal answer on one test case with overlapping intervals.

   In this sentence, the term highlights a strategy that can be fast and intuitive yet still fail to produce the global optimum.

Common collocations

• greedy algorithm
• greedy choice
• greedy strategy
• greedy approach

Related terms

• algorithmA clear, step-by-step method for solving a problem or doing a task, such as sorting a list or finding the shortest route between two points.
• time complexityHow the number of steps an algorithm takes grows as the size of its input grows, usually written in Big O notation.

More terms: Data Structures and Algorithms

• data structure
• array
• iterate
• hash map
• recursion
• Big O notation
• index
• sort
• stack
• queue
• linked list
• tree