Codecademy Pseudocode Searching Algorithm

David Wishart — Sun, 11 Aug 2024 16:09:34 +0000

Introduction

The task in the Codecademy Intro to IT Course is to create pseudocode for a pattern searching algorithm, searching for a specific value in a larger set of data.

Steps to outline algorithm

Input the text to be searched through and the pattern to look for.
Create a text_length variable set to the number of characters in the text (redundant!)
Create a pattern_length variable set to the number of characters in the pattern
Create a match_count variable set to 0
Has the entire text been searched? If not continue to 6, if so skip to 9
Iterate to the next character in text
Increment text_length (no!)
Does the current character + pattern_length = pattern a. If yes match_count + 1 b. Else go back to 5.
Display match_count

Flowchart

Pseudocode

Define text
Define pattern
Create a patt_length variable and set it to the length of the pattern input
Create a match_count variable and set it to 0
if the entire text hasn’t been searched:
iterate to the next character in text
if current character of text + (pattern_length – 1) = pattern
+1 to match_count
Display “The text contains “pattern” “match_count” times.

Conclusion

I guess this should work?! I realised while doing the flowchart that the text_length variable shouldn't be needed so I omitted that from the pseudocode. Once I learn some languages I would be able to say whether the iteration bit is clear enough to make it through the text from start to finish.

DEV Community: David Wishart

Codecademy Pseudocode Searching Algorithm

Introduction

Steps to outline algorithm

Flowchart

Pseudocode

Conclusion