Stephen Cook

Stephen Cook is a prominent computer scientist known for his groundbreaking work in theoretical computer science, particularly in computational complexity. He introduced the concept of NP-completeness in 1971, which helps categorize problems based on how difficult they are to solve. His work helps us understand the limits of what computers can efficiently compute and has profound implications for fields like cryptography, optimization, and algorithm design. Cook's contributions are fundamental to our understanding of computational problems, guiding researchers in determining which problems can be solved quickly and which are inherently more challenging.