Quantum computing is an exciting but complex field that could revolutionise computing in the coming decades. While still in early developmental stages, quantum computers have the potential to solve problems that are effectively impossible for classical computers. In this article, we'll provide a simplified overview of how quantum computing works, where things stand today, what the future may hold, and the challenges that need to be overcome.

How Quantum Computers Work

At the heart of quantum computing is quantum physics - the study of subatomic particles. Classical computers encode information in bits with binary values of 0 or 1. Quantum computers use quantum bits or qubits, which can exist in a superposition of 0 and 1 simultaneously through a phenomenon called superposition. This allows a qubit to essentially represent both values at the same time.

Another related quantum phenomenon utilised in quantum computing is entanglement. When two qubits become entangled, their states become linked so that the quantum state of one qubit cannot be described independently of the state of the other qubit. This allows multiple computations to be performed simultaneously on the superposition of possible qubit values.

Taken together, superposition and entanglement enable quantum computers to operate in completely different ways compared to classical binary computers. While a classical computer performs operations in a linear sequence, a quantum computer can theoretically evaluate all possible solutions at the same time and converge on the most likely outcome.