To solve continuous optimization problems efficiently,a new intelligent optimization algorithm——bacterial foraging optimization (BFO) algorithm based on group searching strategy,was proposed.The BFO simulates the bacteria feeding process.The process of initialization was improved,and the search step length and direction were chosen in a different way.It can efficiently avoid the local optimization by adopting the new strategy,and the search step length improves the convergence speed of optimization.Comparing with conventional algorithms,it indicates that BFO algorithm is better than others in quality of optimization.