An algorithm is a step-by-step procedure or set of rules designed to perform a specific task or solve a problem. It is a logical sequence of actions that takes an input, processes it, and produces an output.
In the context of computing, an algorithm is a finite set of instructions written in a formal language that can be executed by a machine (e.g., a computer). Algorithms are the foundation of problem-solving in programming, mathematics, and other scientific disciplines.