What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Efficient vs Optimal - What's the difference?

efficient | optimal |

As adjectives the difference between efficient and optimal

is that efficient is making good, thorough, or careful use of resources; not consuming extra. Especially, making good use of time or energy while optimal is the best, most favourable or desirable, especially under some restriction.

efficient

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Making good, thorough, or careful use of resources; not consuming extra. Especially, making good use of time or energy.
  • * {{quote-magazine, title=A better waterworks, date=2013-06-01, volume=407, issue=8838
    • , page=5 (Technology Quarterly), magazine=(The Economist) citation , passage=An artificial kidney these days still means a refrigerator-sized dialysis machine. Such devices mimic
  • Using a particular proportion of available energy.
  • Causing effects; producing results.
  • * Wilson
    • The efficient cause is the working cause.

    Antonyms

    * inefficient

    Derived terms

    * efficient cause * subefficient

    Related terms

    * effect * effective * effectiveness * effectivity * effector * effectual * effectuate * efficacious * efficacity * efficacy * efficiency * subefficiency

    References

    ----

    optimal

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • The best, most favourable or desirable, especially under some restriction.
    • Finding the optimal balance between features and price is a common problem.
  • # (artificial intelligence) Describing a search algorithm that always returns the best result.

    • Synonyms

    * best, ideal

    Related terms

    * opt * option * optional * optionable * optimality * optimise, optimize * optimism * optimist * optimistic * optimum * suboptimal