What are heuristics?

Answer 1

• Heuristics are "rules of thumb". A heuristic is an attempt at guessing an answer to a problem, which could be correct, but does not guarantee it to be correct (or even suitable). A common method of applying heuristics is to state the problem, record a number of possible solutions, and then eliminate those which are least likely to be correct. Continue comparing and eliminating until only one answer is left. That one is probably the closest to being correct.
• When dealing with Computer Viruses, heuristics are used to detect variations of the same infection. For example: One signature can detect "pbot.a", "pbot.c" and "pbot.d", even before the threat is "in the wild.

• Heuristcis may be deoned alsio as "trial-and-error" procedure for solving problems (or reaching an unclear goal) through incremental exploration, and by employing a known criteria to unknown factors. For example, trying to climb a fog shrouded hill by making every step an upward-step. In journalism, a well known heuristic is asking Who? What? When? Where? Why? in investigating a news story. A heuristic employs independent discovery, and relies heavily on common sense, creativity, and learning from experience. Unlike an algorithm, however, it offers no guaranty of solving any problem.

• the word comes from the Greek 'heuriskein,' that means to discover.

Answer 2

Heuristic refers to experience-based techniques for problem solving, learning, and discovery. Where the exhaustive search is impractical, heuristic methods are used to speed up the process of finding a satisfactory solution; mental short cuts to ease the cognitive load of making a decision.

Examples of this method include using a rule of thumb, an educated guess, an intuitive judgment, or common sense.