Heuristic (computer science)
In computer science, artificial intelligence, and mathematical optimization, a heuristic is a technique designed for solving a problem more quickly when classic methods are too slow, or for finding an approximate solution when classic methods fail to find any exact solution.
Description
This is achieved by trading optimality, completeness, accuracy, or precision for speed. In a way, it can be considered a shortcut.
A heuristic function, also called simply a heuristic, is a function that ranks alternatives in search algorithms at each branching step based on available information to decide which branch to follow. For example, it may approximate the exact solution.
See also
- Algorithm
- Artificial intelligence
- Constructive heuristic
- Genetic algorithm
- Heuristic
- Heuristic routing
- Heuristic evaluation: Method for identifying usability problems in user interfaces.
- Metaheuristic: Methods for controlling and tuning basic heuristic algorithms, usually with usage of memory and learning.
- Matheuristics: Optimization algorithms made by the interoperation of metaheuristics and mathematical programming (MP) techniques.
Reactive search optimization: Methods using online machine learning principles for self-tuning of heuristics.
