Let’s Differentiate Algorithm and Pseudo Code.

Ayush Garg
3 min readJan 19, 2023
Pseudo Code vs Flow Chart

What is algorithm?

Definition :

It is the stepwise representation of any problem.

Algorithm is used to represent solution of any problem in the well defined manner. Algorithm is the way to express the logic of any problem. It is the language independent. It means there is no specific syntax to write the algorithm so it is not used in the system to develop the software but is the human understandable so that any programmer implemented it easily. Algorithm is in the specific order of step. It means that you must write the step in algorithm in the specific order and step must be a well defined because programmer are implement this algorithm to develop the software .Well specific order and well define step make it easily understandable .It is written in the human friendly language(generally in the English language). By using the algorithm any programmer implement it in the high level language i.e. c, c++, java, etc.

Advantage:

For writing the algorithm it doesn’t necessary person know programming language. It very helpful for the person who doesn’t know the programming language, but know the solution of the problem. By using algorithm any programmer implemented it.

But there are some criteria for writing the algorithm:-

1. Input- algorithm has zero or more than zero input.

2. Output- it necessary the algorithm must give the at least one output and the output must be a desire output.

3. Effectiveness — each and every instruction must have importance in the algorithm.

4. Finiteness- algorithm must be terminating at the certain point.

5. Unambiguous- each and every instruction must have certain (specific) meaning.

It the algorithm must follow all these criteria.

Example

Swap ():

1. Start

2. Read three number num1,num2

3. Temp=num1

4. num1=num2

5. num2=temp

6. print num1,num2

7. stop

Explanation:

The above algorithm has input num1 and num2. Output num1 and num2. Each and every instruction is have certain meaning and importance. And the algorithm is finite.

What is Pseudo Code?

Definition:

It is also a way of representing the solution of the problem.

It is also not syntax specific so it is not executable in the system. We also say that it is another way of representing the algorithm. There is lot of format of writing the pseudo code. Mostly borrow from the c, lips, FORTRAN etc. it is not written in the natural language it means it is not written in the English language (human friendly language). Pseudo code contains the code or syntax but the code is not language specific. Only the programmer is able to understand the pseudo code because pseudo code is close to language. It written in such format which is close to program. Form the programmer point of view it is much easier to convert the pseudo code into program rather than converting the algorithm into program.

Advantage:

It is very helpful for the programmer to write the logic in the pseudo code and by use pseudo code to create the program.

Example:

Swap (num1, num2)

{

Temp=num1;

num1=num2;

num2=temp;

Print (num1, num2);

}

Difference between algorithm and pseudo code:

Algorithm

1. Each and every understand algorithm easily.

2. Write in the natural (human friendly language).

3. Only the programmer or the person know programming are able to understand pseudo code.

4. It beneficial forms the programmer point of view.

Pseudo code

1. Only the programmer or the person know programming language understand it.

2. Write in certain code which is close to programming language.

3. Each and every one even the person doesn’t programming are able understand the algorithm easily.

4. It is beneficial for the person who doesn’t know the programming.

Note-
In some book two type of algorithm are give
1. natural language.
2. pseudo code.
so don’t be confuse here natural language is explained as Algorithm.

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Ayush Garg

I am Engineer. I believe in simplicity. Life and stuff are already complicated so Why make it more complicated. I try to make things simple as simple as I can.