Algorithm Visualizer: Step Through Code Execution
Watch algorithms execute line-by-line with synchronized animations. The best way to understand how data structures and algorithms actually work.
Understanding algorithms from textbooks and videos is hard. You read about "divide and conquer" or "dynamic programming," but the concepts remain abstract until you see them in action.
This collection of interactive algorithm visualizations solves that problem. Each visualization shows the actual Python code on the left and an animated representation of the data structure on the right. As you step through the code, the current line highlights and the animation updates in sync.
How to Use These Visualizations
Select any algorithm from the menu on the left to begin. Each visualization includes:
- Code panel with syntax highlighting and current line indicator
- Animation panel showing the data structure state
- Variable tracking displaying current values
- Step controls for manual navigation or auto-play
- Educational content explaining the algorithm
Why Visualizations Matter
Research in educational psychology confirms what intuition suggests: dual coding theory shows that learning improves when information is presented both verbally and visually. Algorithms are particularly suited to visual learning because they involve spatial transformations—pointers moving, arrays shrinking, trees rebalancing.
These visualizations are designed for active learning, not passive watching. You control the pace. Step forward when you understand, step back when you need to review. Use auto-play to see the full flow, then step through manually to internalize the details.
Getting Started
New to algorithms? Start with these foundational topics:
- Binary Search — The classic divide-and-conquer search algorithm
- Bubble Sort — Simple sorting to understand swap-based algorithms
- BFS — Graph traversal using a queue
Use the sidebar on the left to navigate to any algorithm visualization.
Go Beyond Visualization
Visualizations show you how algorithms work. TerminalTales teaches you when and why to use them through story-driven learning with built-in spaced repetition.
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