What property measures how well an algorithm uses computational resources?

Efficiency is the property that measures how well an algorithm uses computational resources. It refers to the amount of time and space that an algorithm requires to complete its task relative to the input size. An efficient algorithm will minimize resource usage, which includes both time complexity (how fast the algorithm runs) and space complexity (how much memory it uses).

In the context of algorithm design and analysis, efficiency is a crucial consideration because it directly impacts performance, especially with large datasets. For instance, an algorithm that solves a problem quickly but requires an excessive amount of memory may not be practical for certain applications. Therefore, evaluating the efficiency of an algorithm involves assessing it in terms of both its execution time and resource consumption, allowing developers to choose the most suitable algorithm for their needs.

Other properties like robustness, effectiveness, and functionality relate to different aspects of algorithms. Robustness refers to an algorithm's ability to handle errors or unexpected inputs gracefully, while effectiveness measures whether the algorithm correctly solves the problem for which it was designed. Functionality relates to the specific tasks that an algorithm is capable of performing. While these properties are important, they do not directly measure the utilization of computational resources like efficiency does.