11.
Explanation
Binary search and linear search are two different algorithms used to search for an element in a collection of data, such as an array or a list. They differ in their approach, efficiency, and the types of data structures they work well with.
1. Binary Search:
Binary search is an efficient search algorithm that is particularly suitable for sorted data. It works by repeatedly dividing the search space in half until the desired element is found or the search space is empty. Here's how binary search works:
- Start with the entire sorted collection of data.
- Compare the element you are searching for with the middle element of the current search space.
- If the middle element matches the target, the search is successful.
- If the target is smaller than the middle element, repeat the process on the left half of the search space (i.e., the lower half of the collection).
- If the target is larger, repeat the process on the right half of the search space (i.e., the upper half of the collection).
- Continue this process iteratively until the target is found or the search space becomes empty.
Binary search has a time complexity of O(log n), where n is the number of elements in the collection. It is significantly faster than linear search for large collections, but it requires the data to be sorted, which can be a limitation.
2. Linear Search:
Linear search, also known as sequential search, is a simple search algorithm that works by examining each element of the collection one by one until the target element is found. Here's how linear search works:
- Start at the beginning of the collection.
- Compare the current element with the target.
- If the current element matches the target, the search is successful.
- If not, move on to the next element and repeat the comparison.
- Continue this process until the target is found or the end of the collection is reached.
Linear search has a time complexity of O(n), where n is the number of elements in the collection. It is straightforward to implement and works on both sorted and unsorted data. However, it is less efficient than binary search, especially for large collections, as it may need to examine every element in the worst case.
In summary, binary search is a highly efficient algorithm for searching in sorted data, with a time complexity of O(log n), while linear search is a simple but less efficient algorithm with a time complexity of O(n) that can be used for both sorted and unsorted data. The choice of which search algorithm to use depends on the characteristics of the data and the specific requirements of the task.