In this post, we will understand the differences between algorithm and pseudocode −
Algorithm
- It is defined as a sequence of well-defined steps.
- These steps provide a solution/ a way to solve a problem in hand.
- It is a systematic, and a logical approach, where the procedure is defined step-wise.
- It gives the solution to a specific problem.
- This solution would be translated to machine code, which is then executed by the system to give the relevant output.
- Many simple operations are combined to help form a more complicated operation, which is performed with ease by the computer.
- Algorithms can be represented using natural language, flowchart and so on.
- It is difficult to understand.
- Plain text is used.
- It is easy to debug.
- Its construction is tough.
- There are no rules to follow while constructing it.
- It can be understood as the pseudocode for a program.
Algorithm for linear search
- Start searching for an element from the left-most part of the array.
- Compare one element every iteration with the item_to_be_searched.
- If no matches are found, return -1.
- Otherwise, return the index at which the element is present.
Pseudocode
- It can be understood as one of the methods that helps in the representation of an algorithm.
- It is a simpler version of coding in a programming language.
- It is written in plain English, and uses short phrases to write the functionalities that s specific line of code would do.
- There is no specific syntax which is actually present in other programming languages.
- This means it can't be executed on a computer.
- There are many formats that could be used to write pseudo-codes.
- Most of these formats take the structure from languages such as C, LIST, FORTRAN, and so on.
- Pseudocode is not actually a programming language.
- Control structures such as 'while', 'if-then-else', 'repeat-until', and so on can be used.
Pseudocode for Linear Search
FUNCTION linear_search(array, search_item): FOR index FROM 0 -> length(array): IF array [index] == search_item THEN RETURN index ENDIF ENDLOOP RETURN -1 END FUNCTION
No specific language was used, but the functionalities were clearly mentioned.