A repeatable procedure
A recipe is an everyday algorithm: it follows steps to turn ingredients into a dish. Software algorithms can find the shortest route, compress an image, match search terms, or rank recommendations.
An algorithm does not have to use machine learning. Many follow rules written by people and produce the same result for the same input.
Sorting is a simple example: an algorithm puts items in a chosen order, such as names from A to Z or prices from low to high. The chosen rule matters as much as the steps used to apply it.
People choose the rules
A ranking algorithm puts items in order according to a chosen goal, such as relevance or popularity. People decide what data it uses and which trade-offs to make. Those decisions shape what users see. Saying “the algorithm decided” can obscure who made those decisions and who is responsible for fixing mistakes.