Single Threaded Algorithms

Single threaded algorithms are computational procedures designed to execute sequentially on a single thread of execution, processing one instruction at a time without concurrency or parallelism. They are fundamental in programming for tasks where operations must occur in a strict order or when simplicity and determinism are prioritized over performance gains from multi-threading. This concept is widely applied in scripting, basic data processing, and environments with limited resources.

Also known as: Sequential Algorithms, Single-Threaded Programming, Non-Concurrent Algorithms, Serial Algorithms, Single Core Algorithms

Why learn Single Threaded Algorithms?

Developers should learn single threaded algorithms for scenarios requiring predictable execution flow, such as in embedded systems with single-core processors, simple command-line tools, or when debugging complex logic where concurrency introduces race conditions. They are essential for understanding algorithmic foundations before advancing to multi-threaded or parallel programming, and are commonly used in JavaScript for web development due to its single-threaded event loop model.

Learning Resources

• docs: GeeksforGeeks: Single Threaded Model
• docs: MDN Web Docs: Concurrency model and the event loop
• course: Coursera: Algorithms, Part I by Princeton University
• video: YouTube: Single Threaded vs Multi Threaded Programming
• book: Book: Introduction to Algorithms by Cormen et al.