How Heuristics Make Search Algorithms Smarter

Search gets expensive when every path looks equally possible. That is the real problem. A heuristic gives the algorithm a sense of direction. It does not solve the problem by itself. But it tells the search what looks worth exploring first. Core Idea A heuristic function estimates how close a state is to the goal. In search algorithms, that estimate becomes a decision signal. Instead of exploring blindly, the algorithm can prioritize promising states. That is why heuristics ma...