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What is Linear Search?
Linear search is a simple searching algorithm used to find a specific value in a list, array, or collection of elements. It is also known as sequential search and works by examining each element in order until a match is found or the entire list is traversed.
Basic Concepts of Linear Search
1. Sequential Scanning: Linear search involves scanning each element of the list one by one until the desired value is found. It starts from the beginning of the list and moves sequentially towards the end.
2. Unsorted Data: Linear search can be used on both sorted and unsorted data. However, it is more commonly used on unsorted lists because it does not require any specific order of the elements.
3. Comparison-based: Linear search utilizes a comparison-based approach, where each element is compared with the target value to determine a match. It continues this comparison until a match is found or the end of the list is reached.
4. Worst-Case Time Complexity: In the worst-case scenario, linear search may have to traverse the entire list to determine the absence or presence of the desired element. Consequently, the time complexity for linear search is O(n), where n is the number of elements in the list.
Real-World Example
Let’s consider a real-world example to understand linear search better. Imagine you have a list of student names in a classroom where each student is assigned a unique identification number. You are looking for a specific student, John, by his ID.
To find John, you start from the beginning of the list and compare each student’s ID with John’s ID. You continue this process until you either find a match or reach the end of the list. If you find John’s ID, you can conclude that John is present in the classroom. Otherwise, you can determine that John is absent.
In this example, linear search helps you efficiently locate John’s ID without the need for any specific order or index.
Conclusion
In summary, linear search is a basic searching algorithm that involves sequentially scanning each element of a list until the desired value is found. It is commonly used on unsorted lists and implements a comparison-based approach. Linear search has a worst-case time complexity of O(n) and can be easily understood with real-world examples.
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