the Royal Road

The Royal Road is a concept from computer science that describes a problem designed with interconnected, straightforward sub-tasks. When optimized efficiently, solving each part naturally leads to an optimal overall solution, enabling rapid progress. Think of it like a well-designed puzzle where completing individual pieces quickly brings you closer to the complete picture. In evolutionary algorithms, the Royal Road illustrates how breaking complex problems into manageable steps can facilitate more effective and faster optimization, resembling a "shortcut" through complex solution spaces.