8.6. Sorting Algorithms

There are many sorting algorithms to put an array or ArrayList elements in alphabetic or numerical order. We will show these algorithms below for arrays. Three basic sorting algorithms are:

8.6.1. Selection Sort

The selection sort that you need to know for the exam starts at index 0 and looks through the entire array keeping track of the the index of the smallest value in the array and then swaps the value at the smallest index with the value at index 0. Then it does the same thing for index 1, then 2, and so on until it reaches the length of the array minus one. At this point the array is sorted in ascending order.

Here is a folk dance video that shows the selection sort process.

And a short video that describes how selection sort works.

To identify a selection sort look for the following:

  • a nested for loop with the outer loop starting at 0 and ending when the index reaches length - 1 (see line 7 below)

  • the index of the smallest value should start at the outer loop index (see line 9 below)

  • the inner loop should start at the outer loop index + 1 and loop through the whole array (see line 10 below)

  • if the value in the array at the index of the inner loop is less than the value at the smallest index then set the smallest index to the index of the inner loop (see lines 12 - 15)

  • swap the value at the outer loop index and the smallest value (the one at the smallest value index) (see lines 17-19)

Demonstration of selection sort.

To see this executing using the Java Visualizer click on the following SelectionSort

exercise Check Your Understanding

You can step through the code above by clicking on the following Ex-12-4-2.

8.6.2. Insertion Sort

The insertion sort that you need to know for the exam starts at index 1 and inserts the value at index 1 into its correct place in the already sorted part (the part to the left of the current index). It moves any value larger than the value stored in temp to the right until it either finds the appropriate place to put temp or gets to the front of the array.

Here is a folk dance video that shows the insertion sort process.

And a short video that describes how insertion sort works.

To identify an insertion sort look for the following:

  • an outer for loop that starts at 1 and loops through the entire array (see line 7)

  • storing the element value at the outer loop index in temp (see line 9)

  • setting the possible index to the outer loop index (see line 10)

  • an inner while loop that loops while the possible index is greater than 0 and the value in temp is less than the value at the possible index minus one (see line 11)

  • set the value at the possible index to the one to the left of it (the one at possible index minus one) (see line 13)

  • decrement the possible index (subtract one from it) (see line 14)

  • when the while loop ends set the value at the possible index to temp (see line 16)

Demonstration of insertion sort.

To see this executing using the Java Visualizer click on the following Insertion-Sort

exercise Check Your Understanding

You can step through the code above by clicking on the following Visualization.

8.6.3. groupwork Programming Challenge : Sort Runtimes

Selection sort and Insertion sort have similar runtimes. They both have nested loops that run through the data of size n approximately n squared times. However, they perform differently on some data.

In the Active code windows for Selection sort and Insertion sort above, add in a counter and increment it inside the inner loop to count the number of iterations. Add in print statements that will print the counter value after the loops. Run the code on the following data and record the runtimes in this Google document (do File/Make a Copy) also seen below.

8-6-11: Compare the runtimes of selection and insertion sort on the same data. There should be some data where one performed better than the other. Can you explain why this is? Trace through the code to figure out why. Discuss in pairs or groups. Using the space provided below, summarize the key discussion points and include a link to your Google document with the table of runtimes.

8.6.4. Summary

  • Selection sort and insertion sort are iterative sorting algorithms that can be used to sort elements in an array or ArrayList.

  • Informal run-time comparisons of program code segments can be made using statement execution counts.

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