In optimization (a branch of mathematics) and search algorithms (a topic in computer science), a candidate solution is a member of a set of possible solutions to a given problem. A candidate solution does not have to be a likely or reasonable solution to the problem – it is simply in the set that satisfies all constraints.
The space of all candidate solutions is called the feasible region, feasible set, search space, or solution space.
In the case of the genetic algorithm, the candidate solutions are the individuals in the population being evolved by the algorithm.
Famous quotes containing the words candidate and/or solution:
“The Republicans have a “me too” candidate running on a “yes but” platform, advised by a “has been” staff.”
—Adlai Stevenson (1900–1965)
“Who shall forbid a wise skepticism, seeing that there is no practical question on which any thing more than an approximate solution can be had? Is not marriage an open question, when it is alleged, from the beginning of the world, that such as are in the institution wish to get out, and such as are out wish to get in?”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)