BINARY SEARCH Meaning and
Definition
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Binary search is a widely used algorithm in computer science that efficiently searches for a specific value within a sorted list or array. This technique divides the search space in half at each iteration, reducing the number of elements to consider with each step. The method can be applied to both numerical and non-numerical datasets.
The process starts by examining the middle element of the list. If the desired value matches the middle element, the search is successful. Otherwise, the search continues in the half of the list where the target value may be found, eliminating the other half. This step is repeated recursively until the value is found or until the search space is empty, in which case the value is not present in the list.
Binary search exhibits an outstanding time complexity of O(log n), as the search space is halved at each step. This logarithmic growth rate allows binary search to handle large datasets efficiently. However, it requires the initial dataset to be sorted, as the algorithm heavily relies on the property of a sorted array to determine in which direction to proceed.
Due to its simplicity and effectiveness, binary search is utilized in various applications, such as search engines, databases, spell checkers, and more. It exemplifies the power of divide-and-conquer algorithms, making it an important tool for efficient searching in computer science and beyond.
Common Misspellings for BINARY SEARCH
- vinary search
- ninary search
- hinary search
- ginary search
- bunary search
- bjnary search
- bknary search
- bonary search
- b9nary search
- b8nary search
- bibary search
- bimary search
- bijary search
- bihary search
- binzry search
- binsry search
- binwry search
- binqry search
- binaey search
- binady search
Etymology of BINARY SEARCH
The word "binary" in "binary search" refers to the use of a binary system, which is a numeric system that uses only two digits: 0 and 1. This system is widely used in computer science and mathematics.
The term "binary search" was coined by Donald Knuth in his famous book "The Art of Computer Programming" published in 1968. Knuth used the word "binary" to describe the process of repeatedly dividing a sorted list in two until the desired element is found. This approach is based on the fact that the list is divided in half with each comparison, hence the term "binary search".
The concept of binary search can be traced back to ancient times. It has roots in various search algorithms developed by mathematicians and computer scientists throughout history. However, Donald Knuth was credited with establishing and popularizing the term "binary search" in the context of computer science.
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