Understanding Search Algorithms: Linear and Binary

Search algorithms are important tools we use in everyday life. Let’s look at two types: Linear Search and Binary Search.

Linear Search:

• This method works well when we have a small list or if the items are not organized.
• Imagine you are looking for a friend’s name on a guest list. You might go through each name one by one until you find it.
• Example: If you want to find a phone number in a messy contact list, you’ll check each entry until you spot the right one.

Binary Search:

• This method is best used with organized lists, like a dictionary or a sorted list of names.
• Think of looking for a book on a bookshelf. Instead of checking every single book, you can quickly narrow it down by checking the middle of the shelf first.
• Example: If you want to find a book by title, you start in the middle, and based on whether your title is before or after, you keep splitting the shelf in half until you find it.

Both of these search techniques help us find information more quickly and manage our efforts better!