Kolmogorov complexity

Kolmogorov complexity measures the shortest possible description or program needed to generate a specific piece of data, such as a string or file. In other words, it quantifies how compressible or inherently random a piece of information is. If data can be described with a short program, it has low complexity and is highly structured. Conversely, if the shortest program is nearly as long as the data itself, the data has high complexity, indicating randomness or lack of pattern. This concept helps us understand the intrinsic informational content within data, beyond mere size, by focusing on its underlying descriptive simplicity or complexity.