Intermediate · Research
Heuristic
Visual diagram · (in preparation) · Math · (in preparation) · Worked example · 3 difficulty levels.
TL;DR. A practical method or rule of thumb used to find a solution quickly, often sacrificing optimality for speed.
Technical Definition
A practical method or rule of thumb used to find a solution quickly, often sacrificing optimality for speed.
How it works
A heuristic is a problem-solving approach that uses practical methods or shortcuts to find a satisfactory solution, especially when exact methods are too slow or impossible. It prioritizes speed and efficiency over guaranteed optimality.
Related Concepts
- Optimization — The mathematical process of finding parameter values that minimize a loss function.
- Artificial intelligence (AI) — Machines that can perform tasks typically requiring human intelligence.
- Search algorithm — A process for finding information or solutions within data or a problem space.