👉 The code provided implements a basic version of the Euclidean algorithm to find the greatest common divisor (GCD) of two numbers, a and b. The algorithm iteratively replaces `a` with `b` and `b` with the remainder of `a` divided by `b`, continuing this process until `b` becomes zero. At that point, `a` holds the GCD of the original `a` and `b`. This method is efficient for finding the GCD because it reduces the problem size significantly with each step, making it far faster than checking all possible divisors for factors. The Euclidean algorithm leverages the mathematical property that the GCD of two numbers also divides their difference, ensuring each step brings us closer to the solution.
