What is computer vision algorithm?

A computer vision algorithm is a set of computational steps designed to process, analyze, and interpret visual data, such as images or videos. These algorithms enable machines to extract meaningful information from visual inputs, mimicking aspects of human vision. Common tasks include detecting objects, recognizing patterns, segmenting images into regions, or estimating motion. For example, an algorithm might identify faces in a photo, track a moving car in a video, or classify medical scans for abnormalities. The core idea is to transform raw pixel data into structured insights that applications can use for decision-making.

Computer vision algorithms are often built using techniques ranging from traditional image processing to machine learning. Classic methods like edge detection (e.g., Sobel or Canny filters) or feature matching (e.g., SIFT or ORB) rely on mathematical operations to highlight key structures in images. More advanced tasks, such as object recognition, often use machine learning models like convolutional neural networks (CNNs), which learn hierarchical patterns from labeled datasets. For instance, a CNN trained on thousands of labeled images can distinguish between cats and dogs by recognizing textures, shapes, and spatial relationships in the pixels. These algorithms typically involve preprocessing steps (e.g., resizing, normalization), feature extraction, and postprocessing (e.g., filtering false positives).

Developers working with computer vision algorithms need to consider factors like computational efficiency, accuracy, and scalability. For example, real-time applications like autonomous vehicles require algorithms optimized for speed, such as YOLO (You Only Look Once) for object detection, which balances accuracy and processing time. Challenges include handling variations in lighting, perspective, or occlusions. Tools like OpenCV, TensorFlow, or PyTorch provide libraries to implement these algorithms, while frameworks like ONNX or TensorRT help optimize them for deployment. Understanding the strengths and limitations of different approaches—such as when to use a lightweight Haar cascade versus a resource-intensive deep learning model—is critical for building effective solutions.