Linear Search

Overview

Linear search is the simplest search algorithm. It sequentially checks each element in the array until it finds the target value or reaches the end. Linear search works on any array, sorted or unsorted, and requires no special conditions.

How Linear Search Works

The algorithm starts at the beginning of the array and compares each element with the target value. If a match is found, it returns the index of that element. If the entire array is checked without finding a match, it indicates the target is not present.

Time Complexity

In the best case, the target is at the first position, requiring only one comparison for O(1) time. In the worst and average cases, linear search takes O(n) time, where n is the array size, because it may need to check every element.

When to Use Linear Search

Linear search is appropriate for small arrays or when the array is unsorted. It's simple to implement and understand, making it a good starting point for learning search algorithms. For larger sorted arrays, binary search is much more efficient.

Simplicity and Flexibility

The main advantage of linear search is its simplicity. It requires no preprocessing or special conditions about the data. It can search for any value in any array, sorted or not, making it versatile for many basic searching needs.

Limitations

Linear search becomes inefficient for large datasets because it must potentially examine every element. When data is sorted, binary search provides O(log n) performance instead of O(n), making it significantly faster for large arrays.