function gcd(a, b):
while b ≠ 0:
temp = b
b = a mod b
a = temp
return a
The loop stops when b = 0. At that point, a holds the GCD. This runs in logarithmic time because each step cuts the numbers roughly in half.
Implementation pattern
function gcd(a, b):
while b ≠ 0:
temp = b
b = a mod b
a = temp
return a
The loop stops when b = 0. At that point, a holds the GCD. This runs in logarithmic time because each step cuts the numbers roughly in half.