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Heap sorting
Definition:
Heap sorting is a comparison-based sorting algorithm that constructs a binary heap data structure and then repeatedly extracts the maximum (for max-heap) or minimum (for min-heap) element from the heap and rebuilds the heap until the input data is sorted.
The Concept of Heap Sorting
Heap sort is a comparison-based sorting technique based on Binary Heap data structure. It is a popular sorting algorithm that sorts an array by converting it into a heap, which is a complete binary tree. The heap data structure is used to represent the sorted part of the array and the unsorted part of the array.
How Heap Sorting Works:
The heap sort algorithm involves two main operations: heapify and sorting. Here's how heap sorting works:
1. Heapify: The first step is to build a max heap from the elements of the array. This is done by comparing elements and moving larger elements towards the root of the heap, ensuring that the largest element is at the root.
2. Sorting: Once the max heap is constructed, the maximum element (root) is swapped with the last element of the array. The heap size is reduced by one, and the heapify operation is applied to the root to maintain the heap property. This process is repeated until the entire array is sorted.
Heap sort has a time complexity of O(n log n) in the worst-case scenario, making it an efficient sorting algorithm for large datasets. Additionally, heap sort is an in-place algorithm, meaning it does not require any extra space other than the input array.
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