Western Governors University (WGU) ICSC2211 D684 Introduction to Computer Science Practice Test

Question: 1 / 400

What does time complexity measure in relation to algorithms?

The number of lines of code

The time taken by an algorithm as input length increases

Time complexity measures how the runtime of an algorithm increases as the size of the input data grows. This is a critical concept in computer science as it allows developers and engineers to estimate how efficient an algorithm will be when processing larger datasets. Rather than focusing on the absolute time taken for a specific input size, time complexity provides a way to compare the scalability of algorithms by expressing their performance in terms of input size, often using Big O notation.

Understanding time complexity helps in making informed decisions about which algorithms to use for a particular problem, especially when facing large datasets. It captures the relationship between the input size and the time required, which is essential for performance optimization in software development.

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The efficiency of data structures used

The execution speed of the hardware

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