The Arora-Rao-Vazirani algorithm is a significant development in the field of computer science, particularly in the area of approximation algorithms. It was introduced by Sanjeev Arora, K. R. Rao, and Vijay Vazirani in the 1990s. This algorithm provides a way to efficiently approximate solutions to certain optimization problems, specifically the Max-Cut problem, which is a well-known NP-hard problem in graph theory. The algorithm employs a technique called semidefinite programming to achieve a solution that is close to the optimal one. By leveraging this mathematical framework, the Arora-Rao-Vazirani algorithm can produce solutions that are guaranteed to be within a specific ratio of the best possible outcome. This has made it a foundational approach in the study of approximation algorithms and has influenced further research in related areas.