heuristinen

Heuristinen is Finnish adjective meaning heuristic. It describes methods, evaluations, or decisions based on practical experience and rules of thumb rather than guaranteed optimality or exhaustive analysis. The term is used across fields such as computer science, psychology, and decision making. The related noun form in Finnish is heuristiikka, and the word often appears in phrases like heuristinen lähestymistapa (heuristic approach), heuristinen algoritmi (heuristic algorithm), and heuristinen arviointi (heuristic evaluation).

In information technology and artificial intelligence, heuristinen algoritmi uses approximate methods to reduce search space or computation time. Heuristinen arviointi is a usability method to identify issues quickly, while heuristinen hakustrategia refers to strategies that guide exploration using estimates of remaining distance to a goal. In psychology and cognitive science, heuristics are mental shortcuts that enable fast judgments, but they can lead to systematic errors called heuristiset virheet (heuristic biases).

Although heuristic methods do not guarantee optimal solutions, they are valued for speed, scalability, and practical usefulness in complex or poorly defined problems. The Finnish usage mirrors the international concept, and heuristiikka describes the study and application of such methods within various disciplines.

See also: heuristiikka, heuristic.