Algorithm: A word used by programmers when they don't want to explain how their code works

Also a word used by upper management to encompass unexplainable business logic.

"Just implement an algorithm to do it"

@Ikaroz

I'm not sure why but I always think of algorithms as something with a thick sauce of abstraction.

It needs to have a dash of genericness, a little sprinkle of decoupling, and definitely some chewy mathy chunks.

Technically, any "set of instructions" might pass the definition.

But on an emotional level, I need there to be a distinct flavor of some magic secret ingredient, some distribution of carefully weighted items, or a formula which optimizes or balances all of the intricate spicy stuff elegantly.

(On a related note, I'm fucking hungry I'm gonna get a sandwich)

"library" could be another term. Just "trust" the API. Data in, magic out.