Editing Optimization

''This article is about improving programs. For the class of problems, see [[optimization problem]].''

To '''optimize''' a correct program is to engineer its [[Algorithm|design or implementation]] to improve its performance. This generally means decreasing its [[Asymptotic analysis|time complexity]], [[Asymptotic analysis|space complexity]], CPU time usage, or memory usage. Sometimes it will be possible to decrease all of these, whereas in other cases one might be sacrificed for another (especially in the so-called ''time/memory tradeoff''). Less commonly in algorithmic programming, optimization can also mean reducing disk seeks, cache faults, or response time, or increasing throughput. A specific concept that optimizes a program, such as I/O buffering, is also referred to as ''an optimization''. Generally, optimization improves the targeted performance statistic for all or almost all conceivable inputs, or the improvements it offers vastly outweigh the regressions (for example, a program may run slightly more slowly on very small inputs but significantly more quickly on medium to large inputs after optimizations have been made). It thus improves performance in both the average case and the worst case. When the average case performance is already excellent but the worst case performance needs improvement, [[randomization]] may be easier than optimization.