Source: /cirosantilli/quantum-algorithm-vs-quantum-gate-vs-quantum-circuit

= Quantum algorithm vs quantum gate vs quantum circuit

There is no fundamental difference between them, a <quantum algorithm> is a <quantum circuit>, which can be seen as a super complicated <quantum gate>.

Perhaps the greats practical difference is that algorithms tend to be defined for an arbitrary number of N qubits, i.e. as a <function> for that each N produces a specific <quantum circuit> with N <qubits> solving the problem. Most named gates on the other hand have fixed small sizes.