Bubble Sort is one of the simplest sorting algorithms to understand. It works by repeatedly comparing adjacent elements in a list and swapping them if they are in the wrong order. The algorithm gets its name because smaller elements bubble to the top of the list, just like air bubbles rising in water.
Bubble Sort works by repeatedly stepping through the list, comparing adjacent elements and swapping them if they are in the wrong order. The pass through the list is repeated until the list is sorted. In each pass, the largest unsorted element bubbles to its correct position.
The Bubble Sort algorithm uses nested loops. The outer loop controls the number of passes, while the inner loop performs the comparisons and swaps. After each pass, the largest element in the unsorted portion bubbles to its correct position at the end of the array.
To summarize: Bubble Sort is a simple but inefficient sorting algorithm that works by repeatedly comparing and swapping adjacent elements. While it's great for learning sorting concepts, more efficient algorithms are used in real-world applications.
Let's trace through the first pass of Bubble Sort step by step. We start by comparing the first two elements. If the left element is greater than the right element, we swap them. Then we move to the next pair and repeat this process until we reach the end of the array. After the first pass, the largest element will have bubbled to its correct position at the end.
Let's see a complete bubble sort in action. We'll sort the array step by step, showing how each pass moves the largest unsorted element to its correct position. Notice how the number of comparisons decreases with each pass as more elements become sorted.
While Bubble Sort is excellent for learning sorting concepts, it has significant disadvantages in practice. Its O(n squared) time complexity makes it inefficient for large datasets. Modern algorithms like Quick Sort and Merge Sort perform much better. However, Bubble Sort remains valuable for educational purposes due to its simplicity and clear demonstration of sorting principles.
To summarize: Bubble Sort is a simple but inefficient sorting algorithm that works by repeatedly comparing and swapping adjacent elements. While it's great for learning sorting concepts, more efficient algorithms are used in real-world applications.