4. Pseudo-Code.

 

What is pseudo-code? Well, it’s like writing out your algorithm in a simplified, human-readable way. It’s not actual code that a computer can execute, but it helps you organize your thoughts and plan the steps of your algorithm before you start coding.

4.1. Definition of Pseudo-code

Pseudo-code is an informal way of describing an algorithm using natural language and some programming conventions. Think of it as a bridge between the abstract idea of an algorithm and the concrete implementation in a programming language.

4.2. Notations Used in Pseudo-code

While there’s no strict standard, here are some common notations used in pseudo-code:

5       Using indentation to indicate code blocks. Indentation helps show the structure of your algorithm, just like in real code.

6       Using keywords like IF, THEN, ELSE, WHILE, FOR. These keywords are similar to those found in programming languages and help to express control flow.

4.3. Examples of Pseudo-code

Let’s take those sorting algorithms we talked about and write them in pseudo-code.

1.     Calculating the sum of numbers:

START

SET sum ← 0

INPUT n  // number of elements to be added

FOR i ← 1 TO n DO

    INPUT number

    sum ← sum + number

END FOR

PRINT "Total Sum =", sum

END

2.   Finding the Largest Number in a List

START

SET numbers ← [3, 9, 1, 6]

SET largest ← numbers[0]  // Assume the first number is the largest

FOR i ← 1 TO LENGTH of numbers – 1 DO

    IF numbers[i] > largest THEN

        SET largest ← numbers[i]

    END IF

END FOR

PRINT "The largest number is", largest

END

4.4. Advantages and Limitations of Pseudo-code

Pseudo-code has its own set of pros and cons:

Advantages:

Easy to write and understand. It’s closer to natural language, making it easier to express your ideas.

More easily translated into code than flowcharts. Because it uses programming-like conventions, it’s a more direct path to writing actual code.

Limitations:

Less precise than algorithms. It may not be as detailed or unambiguous as a formal algorithm description.

Can be ambiguous. Because it’s not a formal language, there’s room for interpretation.

Pseudo-code is a valuable tool for planning and communicating algorithms, especially when working with others. Pseudo-code enables executing expressive language. You can use pseudo-code to represent the inherent concepts found in codes.