Binary Search: The Efficient Solution for Sorted Arrays
Binary Search is a powerful algorithm that allows you to efficiently search for a target element within a sorted array. This algorithm works by repeatedly dividing the search space in half, which makes it an extremely efficient method for finding elements in large, ordered datasets. The Prerequisite: Sorted Array Before we dive into the details of Binary Search, it's important to understand that this algorithm can only be applied to sorted arrays. If the array is not sorted, Binary Search will not work correctly, and you may end up with incorrect results. The reason for this requirement is that Binary Search relies on the fact that the array is already in order. This allows the algorithm to make informed decisions about which half of the array to search next, based on the comparison between the target element and the middle element of the current search space. The Binary Search Algorithm The Binary Search algorithm follows these steps: 1. Initialize the search space: Set the lowe...