PPolySim OS
Launch Studio

Simulated Annealing

Borrowed from how metal cools into a strong crystal, simulated annealing wanders freely when hot and settles into the best valley as it cools.

Simulated AnnealingLive

Controls

Presets

Simulated annealing borrows from metallurgy: at high temperature it accepts worse moves freely, letting it jump out of local minima; as it cools, it settles into the best valley it found. The acceptance probability exp(−ΔE/T) is the key. Cool too fast and it gets stuck; cool slowly and it finds the global optimum.

▶ Run in Python

Data Inspector

Temperature5.00
Current value1.555
Best found0.000

Governing equation

Reading this result: Balanced schedule: enough early wandering to escape shallow minima, then a steady settle toward the deepest valley found.

Runs locally in your browser — free forever. Scale to the cloud when reality gets heavy.

or unlock everything with Pro →
★ Sign in to save this setup
Save your tuned setup, or drop this simulation into your own site, docs, or course page.

How it works

Simulated annealing minimizes a rugged objective by accepting worse moves with probability exp(−ΔE/T). At high temperature it roams across the landscape, jumping out of local minima; as the temperature cools, it commits to the best region it found. Cooling too fast traps it early; cooling slowly lets it reach the global optimum — a powerful, general-purpose optimizer.

✦

Ask the AI about this model

The math, the assumptions, real-world uses, or a code translation — explained for this exact simulation.

More Optimization simulations

Linear Programming0/1 KnapsackM/M/1 QueueEconomic Order QuantityCritical Path (CPM)Game Theory (Nash)Maximum Flow

Frequently asked questions

Is this simulated annealing optimizer tool really free?▾
Yes. Simulated Annealing runs entirely in your browser using your device's own compute, so local use is free forever. You only pay Compute Tokens if you scale a job to the cloud.
Do I need to install anything?▾
No. Everything runs client-side in a modern browser — no downloads, no license, no account required to start.
Can I save or share my simulation?▾
Create a free account to save projects, and use a shareable embed or minted DOI to publish a live, interactive version anywhere.
How accurate are the results?▾
The solver uses established numerical methods, but results are for research and educational purposes and should be validated against experiment or professional review before you rely on them.