Algorithm

The term “algorithm” is used in many different ways.  In mathematics, it refers to specific formula where variables can be provided to generate different outcomes based on the variables.  In web hosting and the Internet world, algorithms refer to technology that uses a specific set of instructions and parameters used by search engines to derive results for a specific query.

The most common type of algorithm is in search engine results pages.   Google, Yahoo, and MSN Live all use a specific algorithm for their search engines that generate the results of a lookup on a specific keyword.  So if you were to do a search on dog leashes, the search engines scours its database and finds all the entries with the keyword “dog leashes”.  Then it organizes the results according to the popularity of the sites that have that particular keyword

Related web hosting dictionary terms:
Google
Yahoo
Search engine results pages (SERPs)

Glossary Definition by WebHostingGPS.com