The property of being the best achievable solution with respect to a defined objective and set of constraints, central to optimisation and decision problems.
Semantic Classification
Content
- Optimality characterises a solution that maximises or minimises an objective function subject to constraints. Depending on context it may mean a global optimum, a local optimum or a notion such as Pareto optimality where no objective can improve without worsening another.
- Establishing optimality requires a well-defined objective and feasible region, and proofs of optimality often rely on conditions such as convexity or duality. In multi-criteria and strategic settings, optimality is defined relative to trade-offs or equilibrium concepts.