The quantum algorithms of Deutsch, Simon and Shor are described in a way which highlights their dependence on the Fourier transform. The general construction of the Fourier transform on an Abelian group is outlined and this provides a unified way of understanding the efficacy of these algorithms. Finally we describe an efficient quantum factoring algorithm based on a general formalism of Kitaev and contrast its structure to the ingredients of Shor's algorithm.

18 pages Latex. Submitted to Proceedings of Santa Barbara Conference on Quantum Coherence and Decoherence