Introduction to Searching - Data Structure and Algorithm Tutorial

Last Updated : 21 Oct, 2024

Searching is the fundamental process of locating a specific element or item within a collection of data. This collection of data can take various forms, such as arrays, lists, trees, or other structured representations.

Searching-algorithm — Introduction to Searching - Data Structure and Algorithm Tutorial

The primary objective of searching is to determine whether the desired element exists within the data, and if so, to identify its precise location or retrieve it. It plays an important role in various computational tasks and real-world applications, including information retrieval, data analysis, decision-making processes, and more.

Importance of Searching in DSA

Efficiency: Efficient searching algorithms improve program performance.
Data Retrieval: Quickly find and retrieve specific data from large datasets.
Database Systems: Enables fast querying of databases.
Problem Solving: Used in a wide range of problem-solving tasks.

Characteristics of Searching

Understanding the characteristics of searching in data structures and algorithms is crucial for designing efficient algorithms and making informed decisions about which searching technique to employ. Here, we explore key aspects and characteristics associated with searching:

1. Target Element:

In searching, there is always a specific target element or item that you want to find within the data collection. This target could be a value, a record, a key, or any other data entity of interest.

2. Search Space:

The search space refers to the entire collection of data within which you are looking for the target element. Depending on the data structure used, the search space may vary in size and organization.

3. Complexity:

Searching can have different levels of complexity depending on the data structure and the algorithm used. The complexity is often measured in terms of time and space requirements.

4. Deterministic vs Non-deterministic:

Some searching algorithms, like binary search, are deterministic, meaning they follow a clear and systematic approach. Others, such as linear search, are non-deterministic, as they may need to examine the entire search space in the worst case.

Applications of Searching:

Searching algorithms have numerous applications across various fields. Here are some common applications:

Information Retrieval: Search engines like Google, Bing, and Yahoo use sophisticated searching algorithms to retrieve relevant information from vast amounts of data on the web.
Database Systems: Searching is fundamental in database systems for retrieving specific data records based on user queries, improving efficiency in data retrieval.
E-commerce: Searching is crucial in e-commerce platforms for users to find products quickly based on their preferences, specifications, or keywords.
Networking: In networking, searching algorithms are used for routing packets efficiently through networks, finding optimal paths, and managing network resources.
Artificial Intelligence: Searching algorithms play a vital role in AI applications, such as problem-solving, game playing (e.g., chess), and decision-making processes
Pattern Recognition: Searching algorithms are used in pattern matching tasks, such as image recognition, speech recognition, and handwriting recognition.

Searching Algorithms:

Searching Algorithms are designed to check for an element or retrieve an element from any data structure where it is stored.

Below are some searching algorithms:

Linear Search
Binary Search
Ternary Search
Jump Search
Interpolation Search
Fibonacci Search
Exponential Search

1. Linear Search:

Linear Search, also known as Sequential Search, is one of the simplest and most straightforward searching algorithms. It works by sequentially examining each element in a collection of data(array or list) until a match is found or the entire collection has been traversed.

Algorithm of Linear Search:

The Algorithm examines each element, one by one, in the collection, treating each element as a potential match for the key you're searching for.
If it finds any element that is exactly the same as the key you're looking for, the search is successful, and it returns the index of key.
If it goes through all the elements and none of them matches the key, then that means "No match is Found".

Illustration of Linear Search:

Consider the array arr[] = {10, 50, 30, 70, 80, 20, 90, 40} and key = 30
Start from the first element (index 0) and compare key with each element (arr[i]). Comparing key with first element arr[0]. Since not equal, the iterator moves to the next element as a potential match.
Comparing key with next element arr[1]. Since not equal, the iterator moves to the next element as a potential match.
Now when comparing arr[2] with key, the value matches. So the Linear Search Algorithm will yield a successful message and return the index of the element when key is found.

Pseudo Code for Linear Search:

LinearSearch(collection, key):
for each element in collection:
if element is equal to key:
return the index of the element
return "Not found"

Complexity Analysis of Linear Search:

Time Complexity:
- Best Case: In the best case, the key might be present at the first index. So the best case complexity is O(1)
- Worst Case: In the worst case, the key might be present at the last index i.e., opposite to the end from which the search has started in the list. So the worst-case complexity is O(N) where N is the size of the list.
- Average Case: O(N)
Auxiliary Space: O(1) as except for the variable to iterate through the list, no other variable is used.

When to use Linear Search:

When there is small collection of data.
When data is unordered.

2. Binary Search:

Binary Search is defined as a searching algorithm used in a sorted array by repeatedly dividing the search interval in half. The idea of binary search is to use the information that the array is sorted and reduce the time complexity to O(log N).

Binary-Seach-1 — Binary Search Algorithm

Algorithm of Binary Search:

Divide the search space into two halves by finding the middle index “mid”.
Compare the middle element of the search space with the key.
If the key is found at middle element, the process is terminated.
If the key is not found at middle element, choose which half will be used as the next search space.
- If the key is smaller than the middle element, then the left side is used for next search.
- If the key is larger than the middle element, then the right side is used for next search.
This process is continued until the key is found or the total search space is exhausted.

Illustration of Binary Search:

Consider an array arr[] = {2, 5, 8, 12, 16, 23, 38, 56, 72, 91}, and the target = 23.
Calculate the mid and compare the mid element with the key. If the key is less than mid element, move to left and if it is greater than the mid then move search space to the right.
Key (i.e., 23) is greater than current mid element (i.e., 16). The search space moves to the right.
Key is less than the current mid 56. The search space moves to the left.
If the key matches the value of the mid element, the element is found and stop search.

Pseudo Code for Binary Search:

Below is the pseudo code for implementing binary search:

binarySearch(collection, key):
left = 0
right = length(collection) - 1
while left <= right:
mid = (left + right) // 2
if collection[mid] == key:
return mid
elif collection[mid] < key:
left = mid + 1
else:
right = mid - 1
return "Not found"

Complexity Analysis of Binary Search:

Time Complexity:
- Best Case: O(1) - When the key is found at the middle element.
- Worst Case: O(log N) - When the key is not present, and the search space is continuously halved.
- Average Case: O(log N)
Auxiliary Space: O(1)

When to use Binary Search:

When the data collection is monotonic (essential condition) in nature.
When efficiency is required, specially in case of large datasets.

3. Ternary Search:

Ternary Search is a searching algorithm that divides the search space into three parts instead of two, as in Binary Search. It is very useful in the case of unimodal functions.

Algorithm Ternary Search:

In Ternary Search, start with two midpoints, oneThird and twoThirds, which divide the collection into three roughly equal parts.
Compare the elements at oneThird and twoThirds with the target key you're searching for.
Three Possibilities:
- If oneThird contains the key, you're done and return the index of oneThird.
- If twoThirds contains the key, you're done and return the index of twoThirds.
- If the key is less than the element at oneThird, eliminate the rightmost one-third of the collection and focus on the left two-thirds.
If the key is greater than the element at twoThirds, eliminate the leftmost one-third of the collection and focus on the right two-thirds.
Repeat this process iteratively until either key is found or determine that it's not present in the collection.

Example of Ternary Search:

Consider an array arr[] = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10}, and the target = 6.
Ternary Search

Complexity Analysis of Ternary Search:

Time Complexity:
- Best Case: O(1)
- Worst Case: O(log₃N)
- Average Case: O(log₃N)
Auxiliary Space: O(1)

4. Jump Search:

Jump Search is another searching algorithm that can be used on sorted collections (arrays or lists). The idea is to reduce the number of comparisons by jumping ahead by fixed steps or skipping some elements in place of searching all elements.

Illustration of Jump Search:

Let’s consider the following array: (0, 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34, 55, 89, 144, 233, 377, 610).
The length of the array is 16. The Jump search will find the value of 55 with the following steps assuming that the block size to be jumped is 4.
Jump from index 0 to index 4;
Jump from index 4 to index 8;
Jump from index 8 to index 12;
Since the element at index 12 is greater than 55, we will jump back a step to come to index 8.
Perform a linear search from index 8 to get the element 55.

Time Complexity of Jump Search:

Time Complexity: O(√n), where "n" is the number of elements in the collection. This makes it more efficient than Linear Search but generally less efficient than Binary Search for large datasets.
Auxiliary Space: O(1), as it uses a constant amount of additional space for variables.

Performance Comparison based on Complexity:

linear search < jump search < binary search

5. Interpolation Search

Interpolation Search is an efficient searching algorithm for sorted collections of data, such as arrays or lists. It is an improvement over Binary Search, particularly when the data is uniformly distributed.

6. Fibonacci Search

Fibonacci Search is an efficient searching algorithm used for finding a target value in a sorted collection, such as an array or list. It is similar in principle to Binary Search but uses Fibonacci numbers to determine the positions to be compared.

7. Exponential Search

Exponential Search is a searching algorithm designed to find a target value in a sorted collection, such as an array or list. It combines elements of Binary Search and Linear Search to efficiently locate the target, especially when its position is near the beginning of the collection.

Easy Problems on Searching:

Medium problems on Searching:

Hard problems on Searching:

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