An algorithm is a sequence of steps which is utilised in order to solve a computational problem whereas pseudocode is nothing but a more simple form of an algorithm which involves some part of natural language to enhance the understanding ability of the high-level programming constructs or for making it more human-friendly.
Definition of Algorithm
An algorithm is a series of instructions for executing some step by step process, sequence-wise.
There is a certain criterion which an algorithm must satisfy, which is described below:
Input – It is an entity which we externally provide to the algorithm.
Output – The generated result will be considered as output.
Definiteness – Each instruction must be clear and unambiguous.
Finiteness – This ensures that the algorithm will terminate after some certain steps.
Effectiveness – It must include very simple instruction so that it can be executed by the person manually by only pencil and paper. The operation should be feasible along with definiteness.
Definition of Pseudocode
Pseudocode is the expressive form of the algorithm or a way to describe an algorithm.
Pseudocode is also written using some specific words and characters, which are shown below:
- To begin the comment double forward slash are used “//“.
- Matching braces “{ and }” are used to present blocks where a compound statement (set of simple statements) can be illustrated as a block and terminated by a semicolon”;“. The body of a procedure constructs a block as well.
- All the identifiers start with a letter and the datatype of the variables are not declared explicitly.
- An assignment statement is used for the assigning values to the variables.
- To produce the boolean values (i.e., true and false) the logical operators and, or and not and the relational operators <, ≤, =, =, ≥ and > are provided.
- Input and output are presented by read and write instructions.
- “if and then” expressions are used to express a conditional statement.
| BASIS FOR COMPARISON | ALGORITHM | PSEUDOCODE |
| Comprehensibility | Quite hard to understand | Easy to interpret |
| Uses | Complicated programming language | Combination of programming language and natural language |
| Debugging | Moderate | Simpler |
| Ease of construction | Complex | Easier |
- An algorithm is a definite, clear sequence-wise procedure to solve a problem. It involves the high-level language builds which cannot be understood by a non-technical person. On the other hand, pseudocode is a more plain and human understandable form of algorithm where natural language is also combined with the high-level programming language constructs.
- Pseudocode is easy to understand and interpret as compared to an algorithm.
- The algorithm uses high-level constructs meaning the snippet of code but the pseudocode involves natural language with high-level programming builds.
- Pseudocode is easily constructed and debugged relative to the algorithm.
Algorithm and pseudocode are not different concerning programming language, pseudocode more understandable form of an algorithm.
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