Black-box functions are mathematical or computational functions where the internal workings are not known or accessible, and only the inputs and outputs are observable. This concept is crucial in optimization as it emphasizes the need to analyze the function based on its performance rather than understanding its underlying mechanics, which can be especially important in nonlinear optimization problems where the relationship between variables is complex and difficult to model explicitly.
congrats on reading the definition of black-box functions. now let's actually learn it.