Definition of heuristics

problem solving methodology that uses trial and error as well as rules of thumb to take shortcuts to a solution. Although a heuristic approach may not lead to the optimal solution, it is a faster, less expensive, and more practical technique than optimization techniques. For example, when choosing a dry cleaner, a consumer may limit the search to those within a convenient distance and those that the consumer has heard about from a friend. In contrast, an optimizationapproach would require careful study of every dry cleaner in the market on a variety of criteria including price, quality, turnaround time, and so forth.