Intermediate
35 min
Full Guide

Sorting Algorithms

Common sorting algorithms: bubble sort, merge sort, quick sort, and more

Sorting Algorithms

Sorting arranges elements in a specific order. Different algorithms have different time/space complexities and use cases.

Bubble Sort - O(n²)

function bubbleSort(arr) {
  for (let i = 0; i < arr.length; i++) {
    for (let j = 0; j < arr.length - i - 1; j++) {
      if (arr[j] > arr[j + 1]) {
        [arr[j], arr[j + 1]] = [arr[j + 1], arr[j]];
      }
    }
  }
  return arr;
}

Merge Sort - O(n log n)

function mergeSort(arr) {
  if (arr.length <= 1) return arr;
  
  const mid = Math.floor(arr.length / 2);
  const left = mergeSort(arr.slice(0, mid));
  const right = mergeSort(arr.slice(mid));
  
  return merge(left, right);
}

function merge(left, right) {
  const result = [];

  

  let i = 0, j = 0;
  
  while (i < left.length && j < right.length) {
    if (left[i] < right[j]) result.push(left[i++]);
    else result.push(right[j++]);
  }
  
  return result.concat(left.slice(i)).concat(right.slice(j));
}

Quick Sort - O(n log n) average

function quickSort(arr, low = 0, high = arr.length - 1) {
  if (low < high) {
    const pi = partition(arr, low, high);
    quickSort(arr, low, pi - 1);
    quickSort(arr, pi + 1, high);
  }
  return arr;
}

function partition(arr, low, high) {
  const pivot = arr[high];
  let i = low - 1;
  
  for (let j = low; j < high; j++) {
    if (arr[j] < pivot) {
      i++;
      [arr[i], arr[j]] = [arr[j], arr[i]];
    }
  }
  [arr[i + 1], arr[high]] = [arr[high], arr[i + 1]];
  return i + 1;
}

Quick Reference: Bubble/Selection/Insertion: O(n²) | Merge/Quick/Heap: O(n log n)