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A Practical Guide to Quantum Computing
A Practical Guide to Quantum Computing

A Practical Guide to Quantum Computing: Hands-on approach to quantum computing with Qiskit

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Profile Icon Elías F. Combarro Profile Icon Samuel González-Castillo
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$31.99 $35.99
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eBook Jul 2025 512 pages 1st Edition
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Arrow left icon
Profile Icon Elías F. Combarro Profile Icon Samuel González-Castillo
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$31.99 $35.99
Full star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon Empty star icon 1 (1 Ratings)
eBook Jul 2025 512 pages 1st Edition
eBook
$31.99 $35.99
Paperback
$44.99
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Free Trial
Renews at $19.99p/m
eBook
$31.99 $35.99
Paperback
$44.99
Subscription
Free Trial
Renews at $19.99p/m

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A Practical Guide to Quantum Computing

Chapter  1
What Is (and What Is Not) a Quantum Computer

It is indifferent to me where I am to begin, for there shall I return again.
Parmenides

Welcome to the wonderful world of quantum computing! This is the start of a long and exciting journey. A journey that will lead you to learn about mind-blowing algorithms that can efficiently solve problems that are infeasible for mere, classical computers. As we walk together, you will discover the beautiful (but surprisingly simple) mathematics that underlie some of the mysterious physical phenomena that power these quantum systems. And not only that, but you will also learn how to write your own quantum code, and how to run it on actual quantum computers that you can access on the Internet for free. There are many reasons to be excited for the pages ahead.

Soon, you will understand how processing information with quantum technologies could allow you to teleport data, to securely exchange information over communication networks...

1.1 Quantum computing: myths and realities

If you are reading this book, chances are that you have already heard quite a lot about the wonderful feats that quantum computers can achieve: greatly speeding up computations that would take longer than the age of the universe to be completed with our regular, classical machines. However, if you really want to understand what quantum computers are capable of, we first need to dispel some very widespread myths about quantum computing and clarify where the power of quantum information processing really comes from.

The first important thing to make clear is that a quantum computer is not a magical device. There will always be computational problems that, even if we had an extremely advanced, fault-tolerant quantum computer (more on this in Chapter  14), will be impossible to solve. This is a mathematical fact that not even quantum physics can escape from!

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Figure 1.1: The IBM Quantum System One, the first circuit-based commercial...

1.2 Superposition, entanglement, interference, and other mysterious quantum phenomena

Nobody understands quantum mechanics. Or, at least, that is what Richard Feynman famously said. And Feynman was a certified genius (and a Physics Nobel Award winner, to top it up!) so who are we to disagree? But don’t worry, you do not need to know quantum physics to learn how to program a quantum computer. However, it will be very illuminating to explore in some detail the basic quantum phenomena that quantum computers exploit in order to outperform their classical cousins in some important tasks.

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Figure 1.2: A picture taken at the Solvay Conference held in 1927. This conference gathered some of the greatest minds of the early 20th century to discuss quantum theory

Among all quantum phenomena, we must highlight superposition, entanglement, and interference, for we will encounter them time and again throughout this book. We will also have special mentions for the uncertainty principle...

1.3 The shape of things to come

In this first chapter, we have focused on the properties that are used in quantum algorithms, mostly at a descriptive level. But starting in the next chapter, we will introduce the mathematical concepts that you will need in order to understand quantum algorithms and program quantum computers.

Don’t be afraid. The mathematics that you will need (covered in Appendix  A) are quite simple. And we will start from the very basics, first considering only one qubit ( Part  I), introducing systems with two qubits after that (in Part  II), and working all the way up to algorithms that use many qubits ( Part  III and Part  IV). We will then conclude with some concepts from quantum error correction and fault-tolerant quantum computing and some thoughts on the notion of quantum advantage ( Part  V).

Every part of the book will follow the same structure. We will begin by introducing the mathematical concepts needed to describe quantum...

Summary

In this chapter, we have studied what makes quantum computers special and how they are different from classical machines, opening up the possibility to develop new, faster algorithms for some important tasks. We have also demystified some of the usual misconceptions about quantum computers and clarified that their advantage over classical computing devices is best explained with asymptotical analysis, since the difference in execution time grows bigger with the size of the problems under consideration.

We have also taken a first qualitative look at some important quantum properties, including superposition, entanglement, and interference, that will be central in the design of useful quantum algorithms. We have also learned that it is possible to simulate quantum operations with classical computers (and that it is useful, for instance, when debugging quantum software) but that all those quantum properties combined make it impossible (or, at least, very, very unlikely) that those...

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Key benefits

  • Understand the theoretical foundations of quantum computing
  • Learn how to use the Qiskit framework and how to run quantum algorithms with it
  • Discover top quantum algorithms like Grover’s search and Shor’s factoring methods
  • Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook

Description

This book is an introduction, from scratch, to quantum computing and the most important and foundational quantum algorithms—ranging from humble protocols such as Deutsch’s algorithm to ones with far-reaching potential, such as Shor’s factoring algorithm—offering clear explanations and a hands-on approach with runnable code on simulators and real hardware. The book is self-contained and does not assume any previous experience in quantum computing. Starting with a single qubit, it scales to algorithms using superposition and entanglement. At every step, examples of applications are provided, including how to create quantum money that is impossible to forge, quantum cryptography that cannot be broken, and algorithms for searching and factoring that are much faster than those that regular, non-quantum computers can use. Code for each of these algorithms is provided (and explained in detail) using Qiskit 2.1. After reading this book, you will understand how quantum algorithms work, how to write your own quantum programs, and how to run them on quantum simulators and actual quantum computers. You will also be prepared to take the jump into quantum algorithms for optimization and artificial intelligence, like those presented in our previous book, A Practical Guide to Quantum Machine Learning and Quantum Optimization.

Who is this book for?

This book would be ideal for university-level students in Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics or other STEM fields taking introductory-level courses on quantum computing. It also suits professionals, researchers and self-learners with a STEM background. Potential readers of our previous book, A Practical Guide to Quantum Machine Learning and Quantum Optimization, will benefit from first building foundational quantum computing skills with this book.

What you will learn

  • Understand what makes a quantum computer unique
  • Mathematically represent the state of multi-qubit systems
  • Describe the effects of measurements in quantum computers
  • Know how quantum superposition, entanglement, and interference work
  • Implement and run any quantum algorithm in Qiskit
  • Understand how Shor's and Grover's algorithms work
  • Gain familiarity with quantum fault-tolerance and quantum advantage

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Publication date : Jul 30, 2025
Length: 512 pages
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Table of Contents

23 Chapters
Part 1 One Qubit to Rule Them All: Working with One Qubit Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter  1 What Is (and What Is Not) a Quantum Computer Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter  2 Qubits, Gates, and Measurements Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter  3 Applications and Protocols with One Qubit Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter  4 Coding One-Qubit Protocols in Qiskit Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Part 2 Qubit Meets Qubit: Two Qubits and Entanglement Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter  5 How to Work with Two Qubits Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter  6 Applications and Protocols with Two Qubits Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter  7 Coding Two-Qubit Algorithms in Qiskit Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Part 3 Working with Many Qubits Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter  8 How to Work with Many Qubits Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter  9 The Full Power of Quantum Algorithms Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter  10 Coding with Many Qubits in Qiskit Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Part 4 The Stars of the Show: Main Quantum Algorithms Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter  11 Finding the Period and Factoring Numbers Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter  12 Searching and Counting with a Quantum Computer Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter  13 Coding Shor and Grover’s Algorithms in Qiskit Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Part 5 Ad Astra: The Road to Quantum Utility and Advantage Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter  14 Quantum Error Correction and Fault Tolerance Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter  15 Experiments for Quantum Advantage Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Bibliography Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Solutions Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

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How would I know? The purchase is for a book that hasn't been published yet, but you are asking me about it? This is personalized service? Your auto-messaging service obviously *****. If you can't get something that simple right, how can I trust you with my money (a purchase)?
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