free web page hit counter
🛡️
Copyright Notice: This video is officially sourced and embedded from YouTube. For all copyright inquiries, reports, or removals, please contact YouTube's legal team here.
BBC Ideas

BBC Ideas

689,000 subscribers

👁 577,713 views

What exactly is an algorithm? Algorithms explained | BBC Ideas

Video Overview & Insights

What is an algorithm? You may be familiar with the idea in the context of Instagram, YouTube or Facebook, but it can feel like a big, abstract concept. Here’s presenter Jon Stroud with a step-by-step guide to what algorithms actually are, what algorithms do, and how algorithms work.

If you think of any other buzzwords that are used all the time but most people don’t actually know what they mean, let us know 👇

Hope you enjoyed this vid. Give it a like and subscribe for new videos every week.

— @bbcideas

Want to find out more? Have a watch of this video next... Why algorithms are called algorithms https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oRkNaF0QvnI

Made by Jist Studios.

I am the glitch in the algorithm

— @Barton.d

Subscribe to BBC Ideas 👉 https://bbc.in/2F6ipav

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

And you don't try to change my Facebook algorithm...last reminder

— @kabiravro4474

Do you have a curious mind? You’re in the right place.

Our aim on BBC Ideas is to feed your curiosity, to open your mind to new perspectives, and to leave you that little bit smarter.

Considering, the credibility of the BBC which is as bad as, or even worse than that of MSNBC, this definition of an algorithm is probably a wrongful definition of a logarithm, a bad idea.

— @sundareshvenugopal6575

So dive in. Let us know what you think. And make sure to subscribe! 👉https://bbc.in/2F6ipav

Visit our website to see all of our videos: https://www.bbc.com/ideas

And follow BBC Ideas on Twitter: https://twitter.com/bbcideas

Life b4 publicly released AI bro had to research for 1 hour and ended up calling someone 😭🙏

— @omogolomafethe6035

#bbcideas #algorithm #explainervideos

More User Perspectives

@

For an educational video admitting you don't know what it is is not the best approach

@JohnBurien
@

Any algorithms on 2026😅

@magicmusic22
@

Dont really work iam gsy snd all the youtube algorithms show me is gender wars between men snd women that obviously not apart kf dince being gay,

@Corbr_117
@

I thought algorithm is a system in a platform that examine user's activity to present user's prefer contents. I'm really struggling to understand what it is cause all find online is a description what it is still can't understand.

@CancerousGaming-bo9kv
@

4:33
I laughed so freaking hard when I heard her sounding very intelligent and professional only to show scratch on her laptop 😅

@Stitches46
@

How data goes in and goes out from an algorithm

@eliabniyomugabo-z9n
@

I think heery potter likes smarts😂😂

@ElizabethNkhwazi-o9p
@

How crazy that an algorithm learns from you i think you need to set peoples heads straight before you ever move to that level , if you have a sick society where do you think the algorithm is going to lead you , you can see a world of madness , fix and heal the peoples minds first before you trust in AI and algorithms as methinks it will end in disaster , there are so many people that need healing first , only my opinion , i would say with the world as is very dangerous pushing forward with the algorithm as is and AI very very careful indeed , only my opinion and i'm not and expert. If the algorithm learns from you , just look at some of the strange things that pop up in your feed , wheres some of the odd stuff coming from in those feeds???

@TinMan-i9l
@

Horus to keep our minds at ease because of the amount of skin and time with consumed

@DudieVault-b2r
@

What is proud of low in pay check shrouds

@DudieVault-b2r
@

The frustrations, I see, include, say something is newsworthy and you watch a few videos. You then get bombarded with videos on the same topic and you no longer see theother things you were interestedin.

@kimberlybray9862
@

im the 10k like lmfao im not joking

@bloxie-g
@

Finally! Now I can understand why YouTube keeps recommending me cat videos 😹

@BehindtheAlgorithmOfficial
@

Wow

@BashirYusuf-y5g
@

What may I ask does this have to do with
Al Gore rhythm?

@JohnShields-df8od
@

Did an algorithm do that to his haircut.

@bobsyeruncle4841
@

before ai there was algorithms 😆

@GN-z11Codes
@

What the hell?

@martibyrd1278
@

This video breaks down algorithms in such a clear way! 📊 Really helped me see how they shape everything around us. 👏

@ToDoKiDiary
@

If you're from @atingi gather here

@omokanyeloveth3462
@

Another open-mouth, wide-eyed or completely out of context thumbnail—because nothing screams “quality content” like mimicking every other desperate channel praying to the Algorithm Gods. If originality were currency, you’d be bankrupt. Yet another addition to the cesspool that is YouTube 😂

@StupidInternetPeople
@

Thanks. Makes you want to build algorithms.

@Pablo-l6z3j
@

Yes, we should be very worried about algorithms

@JefferyBeisch-v7t7o
@

Now i understand.

@zoeturner-y2o
@

Who controls the algorithm? Well, someone told me that it's mostly private companies. And they won't let us know since there is money involved.

@Roguek-m3e
@

What if there is a way to have an object's shape and create an algorithm for that shape and be able to look out from that shape in a certain spectrum from that position? And be able to harness it in different parts of the Galaxy or universe at times?

@robertwilliams498
@

They really have been putting us through algorithms like we’re test animals yall gross.

@TheA1eggHead
@

So is iit safe to say algorithms are ingredients?

@djmil5110
@

Din-Si- GFR = Data inputs- Set instructions- Get fast/efficient results if the programmer didn’t mess us writing code 🤪

@JoshHarper-rh9to
@

Yes in every where

@Three3d-v8b
@

Amazing doucheFace thumbnail! Yet another clueless lemming DoucheTuber looking ridiculous because they think making stupid, unnecessary, out of context and unprofessional faces will get people to click 😂 and I might add some people faces in general have no business being in a thumbnail, mop head 😂

@StupidInternetPeople
@

Algorithm is not. Common. Sense 😂😂😂😂

@davidwaldner8841
@

Talks about Algorithms, but not once did he mention the man to whom the word "Algorithm" referred to in the first place.

Americans just can't help being hypocrites.

@MEYH3M
@

There is an algorithm working in the backend of YouTube that's why I here

@harshrajput3241
@

. Al Kharazmi was a translator, not an inventor.

@DipakBose-ge1hm
@

Is bro talking about ALGORITHM like wil3y the music ????

@Evil_Tech
@

0:21

@rothsshvili5125
@

Harry Potter if he got expelled from Hogwarts

@mattjoneslovesyou7519
@

The algorithm is the software that runs the hardware. it executes a set of instructions to operate the hardware in a specific way.

@osmanay4301
@

6:20 yeah put that algorithm against someone thats actually skilled and lets see how they compare

@MrThemelloman
@

I am still chasing algorithm😂

@kashmirivillagefoods95
@

The name came from Al Gore Rhythm.

@ZENIGMATV
@

How can we write an algorithm

@YovsiFabrice
@

Keeps your kids away from smart phones and tablets. Anybody with programming skills can feed algorithms into your child’s YouTube channel and other sites. I see a lot of people going depressed or having mixed emotions because of these algorithms.

@IMorgan-jd6rm
@

I don’t exactly understand what did I learned from Algorithms before this video. Thanks to make the concept clearly and easily understand exactly works in computing.

@JennyLam-y4y