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When the array contains only duplicates of a relatively small number of items, a constant-time perfect hash function can greatly speed up finding where to put an item 1, turning the sort from Θ(n 2) time to Θ(n + k) time, where k is the total number of hashes. The array ends up sorted in the order of the hashes, so choosing a hash function ...
Sorted arrays are the most space-efficient data structure with the best locality of reference for sequentially stored data. [citation needed]Elements within a sorted array are found using a binary search, in O(log n); thus sorted arrays are suited for cases when one needs to be able to look up elements quickly, e.g. as a set or multiset data structure.
Given an array of n elements from some totally ordered domain, consider this array as a collection of cards and simulate the patience sorting game. When the game is over, recover the sorted sequence by repeatedly picking off the minimum visible card; in other words, perform a k -way merge of the p piles, each of which is internally sorted.
The problem is then to produce an array such that all "bottom" elements come before (have an index less than the index of) all "middle" elements, which come before all "top" elements. One algorithm is to have the top group grow down from the top of the array, the bottom group grow up from the bottom, and keep the middle group just above the ...
Sorting small arrays optimally (in the fewest comparisons and swaps) or fast (i.e. taking into account machine-specific details) is still an open research problem, with solutions only known for very small arrays (<20 elements). Similarly optimal (by various definitions) sorting on a parallel machine is an open research topic.
The next pass, 3-sorting, performs insertion sort on the three subarrays (a 1, a 4, a 7, a 10), (a 2, a 5, a 8, a 11), (a 3, a 6, a 9, a 12). The last pass, 1-sorting, is an ordinary insertion sort of the entire array (a 1,..., a 12). As the example illustrates, the subarrays that Shellsort operates on are initially short; later they are longer ...
Block sort begins by performing insertion sort on groups of 16–31 items in the array. Insertion sort is an O(n 2) operation, so this leads to anywhere from O(16 2 × n/16) to O(31 2 × n/31), which is O(n) once the constant factors are omitted. It must also apply an insertion sort on the second internal buffer after each level of merging is ...
If the sort key values are totally ordered, the sort key defines a weak order of the items: items with the same sort key are equivalent with respect to sorting. See also stable sorting. If different items have different sort key values then this defines a unique order of the items. Workers sorting parcels in a postal facility