(1) Input There are zero or more quantities that are externally supplied. (2) Output At least one quantity is produced. (3) Definiteness Each instruction is clear and unambiguous. (4) Finiteness If we trace out the instructions of an algorithm, then for all cases, the algorithm terminates after finite number of steps. (5) Effectiveness Every instruction must be basic enough to be carried out, in principle, by a person using only pencil and paper. It is not enough that each operation be definite as in(3); it also must be feasible