Linear Search Algorithm Explained

Linear search is one of the simplest search algorithms. It sequentially checks each element in a list until the desired element (the target) is found or the list ends. This approach works on both sorted and unsorted lists, making it versatile for small datasets.

How Linear Search Works

1. Iteration: Start at the beginning of the list.
2. Comparison: Compare each element with the target value.
3. Match Found: If an element matches the target, return its index.
4. Completion: If no match is found by the end of the list, return an indicator (typically -1).

Time Complexity Table

Key Takeaways

• Simplicity: Linear search is easy to implement and understand.
• No Preprocessing: It works without requiring the list to be sorted.
• Efficiency: While efficient for small or unsorted datasets, it is less effective for large datasets due to its O(n) time complexity.
• Versatility: It can be applied to any list regardless of order.