Algorithm

In mathematics, an algorithm is a set of instructions that will result in a certain output. In computer science, algorithms are very much the same thing: an algorithm is a set of processes that are designed to solve a problem, compute something, or otherwise provide an output.
What does that look like in the application? An algorithm might determine which search results are most likely to be useful to you. Algorithms are highly important to understand conceptually in order to understand SEO, simply because almost everything in SEO relies on algorithms, whether directly or indirectly.

Search engines carry out specific tasks defined by the algorithms that help them find the most useful content for their users. These algorithms may take into account factors such as the location of the user and the keywords that the user queried to determine what information they might be looking for.
Additionally, algorithms are used to rank the search results pages for different keywords, taking into account factors that may signal how helpful different websites are — metrics such as number of visitors, how regularly pages are updated, the presence of keywords, high-quality content, and more.
While each algorithm may vary, and the exact algorithms that search engine giants use for various cases may be proprietary information, understanding algorithms, in general, can be quite helpful. By understanding how algorithms work and what kinds of content can be prioritized as a result of them, it may be possible to more effectively position yourself to benefit from the mechanics of these important algorithms.