Algorithms in Java, Third Edition, Parts 1-4: Fundamentals, Data Structures, Sorting, Searching

Chapter Six. Elementary Sorting Methods

For our first excursion into the area of sorting algorithms, we shall study several elementary methods that are appropriate either for small files or for files that have a special structure. There are several reasons for studying these simple sorting algorithms in detail. First, they provide context in which we can learn terminology and basic mechanisms for sorting algorithms, and thus allow us to develop an adequate background for studying the more sophisticated algorithms. Second, these simple methods are actually more effective than the more powerful general-purpose methods in many applications of sorting. Third, several of the simple methods extend to better general-purpose methods or are useful in ...