In the analysis of algorithms, what does "Big O" notation describe?

"Big O" notation is a mathematical concept used to describe the upper bound of an algorithm's time complexity. It provides a way to express how the runtime or space requirements of an algorithm grow relative to the size of the input data as the input size approaches infinity. This characterization focuses on the worst-case scenario, allowing developers to understand the maximum time an algorithm could take as the input scales, which is crucial for performance analysis.

By using "Big O," algorithm designers can communicate the efficiency of algorithms in a standardized way, regardless of specific implementations or hardware differences. This is particularly valuable in comparing different algorithms and understanding their scalability.