The No Free Lunch Theorem of Optimization (NFLT) is an
impossibility theorem telling us that a general-purpose
universal optimization strategy is impossible, and the only
way one strategy can outperform another is if it is
specialized to the structure of the specific problem under
consideration. Since virtually all decision and control
problems can be cast as optimization problems, an
appreciation of the NFLT and its consequences is essential
for controls engineers. In this paper we present a framework
for conceptualizing optimization problems that leads useful
insights and a simple explanation of the NFLT.