---
id:
aliases:
  - rule-of-thumb
tags:
  - authorship/original
  - destiny/permanent
  - status/incomplete
  - type/encyclopedia
title: Heuristics
dg-publish: true
---
# Heuristics

A heuristic, or "rule of thumb", is a solution
that neglects some of a problem's complexity,
while still producing a satisfactory result.

The namesake rule of the rule of thumb
is that the width of one's thumb is about an inch.
With that heuristic,
one can closely approximate small dimensions
even without the proper tools.

## See Also

[[realism-vs-instrumentalism]]
