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A.10: Sorting Algorithms
Introduction
This module explores various ways to sort unsorted arrays of numbers. While our examples only use numbers, the same methods can be used to sort arrays of arbitrary data types according to arbitrary sort order.
We will rarely write sorting algorithms as software engineers because most languages have built-in sorting functions, and DS&A interview questions rarely test sorting algorithms because sorting algorithms are relatively easily memorised. However, we will learn sorting algorithms because they are a common-enough concept in DS&A and the strategies behind sorting algorithms can be relevant to how we approach other DS&A problems.
There is no need to memorise the below sorting algorithms' implementation. Just understand how they work such that you could describe their logic well-enough to write pseudocode.
Naive Sorting Algorithms
Naive Sorting AlgorithmsSelection Sort
- Runtime: O(n²)
- Space: O(1)
- Sort In-Place: Yes
- Stable: No
Attributes
- good space complexity
- simple code
- slow for large lists / fast for small lists
Selection Sort Pseudo Code
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for each element in the array
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consider the current element as the least value
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for each element in the rest of the array forward from the current element
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look for an element that is less
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if it's less, set the inner loop element as the least value
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swap the least value and the current element
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Selection Sort
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from pprint import pprint
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A = [64, 25, 12, 22, 11]
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def selection_sort(arr):
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# traverse through all array elements
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for outer_idx in range(len(arr)):
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# given current point in array
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# mark that value as min
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min_idx = outer_idx
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# start inner loop
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# loop starting at outer_idx to end
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for i in range(outer_idx+1, len(arr)):
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# if a lower value is found
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if arr[min_idx] > arr[i]:
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min_idx = i
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# loop set a min value
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# swap the found minimum element with
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# the first element
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arr[outer_idx], arr[min_idx] = arr[min_idx], arr[outer_idx]
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return arr
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result = selection_sort(A)
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print ("Sorted array")
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pprint(result)
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Selection Sort with Prints
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from pprint import pprint
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A = [64, 25, 12, 22, 11]
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def selection_sort(arr):
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# Traverse through all array elements
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for outer_idx in range(len(arr)):
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# given current point in array
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# mark that value as min
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min_idx = outer_idx
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print(f'set min value for location: {outer_idx} : {arr[outer_idx]}')
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# start inner loop
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# loop starting at outer_idx to end
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print('starting inner loop')
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for i in range(outer_idx+1, len(arr)):
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# if a lower value is found
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if arr[min_idx] > arr[i]:
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print(f'found a lower value: {arr[i]}')
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min_idx = i
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print('*******************')
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# loop set a min value
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# swap the found minimum element with
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# the first element
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print(f'swapping {arr[outer_idx]} with {arr[min_idx]}')
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arr[outer_idx], arr[min_idx] = arr[min_idx], arr[outer_idx]
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print('done with outer loop')
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print('-------------------')
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return arr
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result = selection_sort(A)
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print ("Sorted array")
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pprint( result)
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Further Reading
Insertion Sort
- Runtime: O(n²)
- Space: O(1)
- Sort In-Place: Yes
- Stable: Yes
Attributes
- good space complexity
- simple code
- slow for large lists / fast for small lists
- good for nearly sorted lists - will exit early if list is done ("adaptive")
- can sort while new items are being added to list ("online")
Insertion Sort Pseudo Code
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begin with the second element
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for each element in the array, starting with the second element
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consider the current element as "removed"
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look backwards through the array starting from the current element
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if the current element is more than the inner loop value
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move the current element into the inner loop location
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if the inner loop element is less than the current element, end the loop
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Insertion Sort
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from pprint import pprint
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A = [64, 25, 12, 22, 11]
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def insertion_sort(arr):
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# Traverse through the array starting with the 2nd element
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for i in range(1, len(arr)):
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# set the current element as key
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key = arr[i]
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# look backwards through the array
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# move every value forward by one until it finds
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# a value smaller than key
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j = i-1
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while j >= 0 and key < arr[j] :
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# move j ahead one
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arr[j + 1] = arr[j]
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j -= 1
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# put key in the space we found using the loop
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arr[j + 1] = key
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return arr
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result = insertion_sort(A)
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print ("Sorted array")
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pprint( result)
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Insertion Sort with Prints
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from pprint import pprint
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A = [64, 25, 12, 22, 11]
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def insertion_sort(arr):
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# Traverse through the array starting with the 2nd element
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for i in range(1, len(arr)):
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print('****************************')
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# set the current element as key
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key = arr[i]
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print(f'removed: {key}')
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# look backwards through the array
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# move every value forward by one until it finds
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# a value smaller than key
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print('looking back ')
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j = i-1
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while j >= 0 and key < arr[j] :
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# move j ahead one
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print(f'putting {arr[j]} at: {j+1}')
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arr[j + 1] = arr[j]
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j -= 1
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# put key in the space we found using the loop
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print(f'putting *key* {key} at: {j+1}')
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arr[j + 1] = key
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return arr
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result = insertion_sort(A)
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print ("Sorted array")
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pprint( result)
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Further Reading
Bubble Sort
- Runtime: O(n²)
- Space: O(1)
- Sort In-Place: Yes
- Stable: Yes
Attributes
- good space complexity
- simple code
- slow for large lists / fast for small lists
Bubble sort is considered the "beginner's" sorting algorithm. It is slow and lacks the features of other naive algorithms. However, the pseudocode is simple and so it is used to introduce concepts of sorting algorithms.
Bubble Sort Pseudo Code
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for each element in an array
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starting with the current element and
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look at all elements after it
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compare the inner element with it's neighbor
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if the inner elemnt is larger
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swap them
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Bubble Sort
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from pprint import pprint
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A = [64, 25, 12, 22, 11]
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def bubble_sort(arr):
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# Traverse through the array
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for i in range(len(arr)):
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# loop to compare array elements
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for j in range(0, len(arr) - i - 1):
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# compare two adjacent elements
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# change > to < to sort in descending order
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if arr[j] > arr[j + 1]:
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# swapping elements if elements
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# are not in the intended order
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temp = arr[j]
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arr[j] = arr[j+1]
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arr[j+1] = temp
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return arr
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result = bubble_sort(A)
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print ("Sorted array")
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pprint( result)
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Bubble Sort with Print
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from pprint import pprint
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A = [64, 25, 12, 22, 11]
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def bubble_sort(arr):
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# Traverse through the array
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for i in range(len(arr)):
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print('***************************')
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print(f'at: {i}')
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# loop to compare array elements
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for j in range(0, len(arr) - i - 1):
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# compare two adjacent elements
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# change > to < to sort in descending order
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print(f'comparing: {j} to {j+1} {arr}')
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if arr[j] > arr[j + 1]:
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print(f'its larger, swapping : {arr[j]} to {arr[j+1]}')
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# swapping elements if elements
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# are not in the intended order
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temp = arr[j]
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arr[j] = arr[j+1]
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arr[j+1] = temp
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return arr
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result = bubble_sort(A)
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print ("Sorted array")
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pprint( result)
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What's the Difference Between Insetion Sort and Bubble Sort?
The main difference is that insertion sort finds an element's place in the already sorted list, and bubble sort does not. This behavior is why insertion sort is "online" and new unsorted things can be added to the end of the array.
Further Reading
Last modified 22d ago