Information Theory

Definition

Information theory, founded by Claude Shannon, provides tools to measure information and uncertainty, most notably entropy. It explains how much a message reduces uncertainty. In Wordle, information theory formalizes why some guesses are objectively better: they reduce uncertainty about the answer more than others.

Why it matters

Information theory is the rigorous backbone of optimal Wordle strategy. Even without computation, its core idea — maximize expected reduction in uncertainty — directly guides better guessing.

Examples

• Entropy measures uncertainty about the answer.
• A high-information guess splits candidates into small, even groups.

Best practices

• Favor guesses that reduce uncertainty the most.
• Use the partition intuition instead of formal math at the board.

Frequently asked