ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

NIST Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures

The NIST Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures is a giant book filled with words and meanings that help people who like to work with computer programs.

In the book, there are lots of things that are called algorithms. An algorithm is like a recipe for a computer program to follow. Just like when you follow a recipe to make a cake, a computer program follows an algorithm to do things like sorting information or searching for specific things in a big list.

And if you have ever played with Legos or building blocks, you know how they come in different shapes and sizes. Well, computer programs also use different types of building blocks called data structures. These blocks can hold different kinds of information and can be used in different ways.

So, the NIST Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures is like a big guidebook filled with all the ways you can build programs and sort information using these building blocks. It helps people who work with computers to speak the same language, so they can understand each other and work together better.