算法 (suàn fǎ) literally means 'calculation method' — 算 (suàn) means 'to calculate' or 'to compute', and 法 (fǎ) means 'method' or 'rule'. Together, they refer to a precise, step-by-step procedure for solving a problem or performing a task, especially in mathematics and computer science. Unlike informal mental math, an algorithm must be unambiguous, finite, and effective — every step must be clearly defined and lead toward a solution.

This term is widely used in tech, data analysis, AI, and programming contexts in Chinese-speaking environments. It appears in news about search engines, recommendation systems, or machine learning models — for example, 'the social media platform updated its recommendation algorithm'. While originally technical, 算法 is now increasingly common in everyday discussions about digital life, privacy, and fairness in automated decision-making.