Write linear/sequential search algorithm and calculate time and space complexity

 

Searching-

• Searching is a process of finding a particular element among several given elements.
• The search is successful if the required element is found.
• Otherwise, the search is unsuccessful.

Searching Algorithms-

Searching Algorithms are a family of algorithms used for the purpose of searching.

The searching of an element in the given array may be carried out in the following two ways-

1. Linear Search
2. Binary Search

Linear Search-

• Linear Search is the simplest searching algorithm.
• It traverses the array sequentially to locate the required element.
• It searches for an element by comparing it with each element of the array one by one.
• So, it is also called as Sequential Search.

Linear Search Algorithm is applied when-

• No information is given about the array.
• The given array is unsorted or the elements are unordered.
• The list of data items is smaller.

Linear Search Algorithm-

Consider-

• There is a linear array ‘a’ of size ‘n’.
• Linear search algorithm is being used to search an element ‘item’ in this linear array.
• If search ends in success, it sets loc to the index of the element otherwise it sets loc to -1.

Time Complexity Analysis-

Linear Search time complexity analysis is done below-

Best case-

In the best possible case,

• The element being searched may be found at the first position.
• In this case, the search terminates in success with just one comparison.
• Thus in best case, linear search algorithm takes O(1) operations.

Worst Case-

In the worst possible case,

• The element being searched may be present at the last position or not present in the array at all.
• In the former case, the search terminates in success with n comparisons.
• In the later case, the search terminates in failure with n comparisons.
• Thus in worst case, linear search algorithm takes O(n) operations.