ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Boyer–Moore string-search algorithm

Hey kiddo, so have you ever played a game where you have to find a match or a hidden object? Well, the Boyer-Moore string-search algorithm is a lot like that game, but for computers.

You see, when we type something into a computer, like a word or a sentence, the computer has to figure out if that word or sentence appears anywhere else in a bigger chunk of text. This can be a lot of work for the computer because it has to go through every single letter and compare them to the word or sentence we're looking for.

But the Boyer-Moore algorithm makes this job easier by being really smart! Instead of starting at the beginning of the chunk of text and looking at every single letter, the algorithm starts at the end of the word or sentence we're looking for and looks at the last letter. Then, it jumps to a certain point in the chunk of text, based on some rules, and looks at the last letter there. If those two letters don't match, then the algorithm can skip over a lot of the text and start again at the next point, based on those rules.

This may sound complicated, but think of it like when you're looking for a toy. Instead of checking every single drawer or shelf to find it, you might remember where you saw it last or where it's supposed to be, and only check those places first.

So the Boyer-Moore algorithm is a special way for the computer to find things more quickly and efficiently. Pretty cool, huh?