Back to Glossary
DevelopmentIntermediate

What is Big O Notation?

A mathematical way to describe how the performance of an algorithm changes as the input size grows.

Why It Matters

Big O helps you choose algorithms that will perform well at scale, not just with small test data.

Real-World Example

An O(n) search checks each item once, while an O(n squared) approach checks every pair, getting much slower with large datasets.

“Understanding terms like Big O Notation matters because it helps you have better conversations with developers and make smarter decisions about your software. You do not need to be technical. You just need to know enough to ask the right questions.”

Callum Holt, Founder, 13Labs

From definition to deployment

Knowing the term is step one. Using it in something real is the rest.