Heuristic

Heuristics are strategies using readily accessible, though loosely applicable, information to aid in problem solving. A heuristic is a mental shortcut that allows people to solve problems and make judgments quickly and efficiently. These rule-of-thumb strategies shorten decision-making time and allow people to function without constantly stopping to think about their next course of action. Heuristics are helpful in many situations, but they can also lead to biases.

A heuristic contrasts with an algorithm. While an algorithm is a set of well-defined instructions for carrying out a particular task, a heuristic is a technique that helps you look for an answer. Its results are subject to chance because a heuristic tells you only how to look, not what to find. It doesn’t tell you how to get directly from point A to point B; it might not even know where point A and point B are. a heuristic is less predictable than an algorithm.