# Difference Between Algorithm and Pseudocode

Analysis of AlgorithmsAlgorithmsMisc Algorithms

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.

Published on 02-Mar-2021 05:08:36