An introduction to genetic algorithms

Genetic algorithms (GAs) are search and optimization tools, which work diff erently compared to classical search and optimization methods. Because of t heir broad applicability, ease of use, and global perspective, GAs have bee n increasingly applied to various search and optimization problems in the r ecent past. In this paper, a brief description of a simple GA is presented. Thereafter, GAs to handle constrained optimization problems are described. Because of their population approach, they have also been extended to solv e other search and optimization problems efficiently, including multimodal, multiobjective and scheduling problems, as well as fuzzy-GA and neuro-GA i mplementations. The purpose of this paper is to familiarize readers to the concept of GAs and their scope of application.