Linear Search vs Binary Search – Difference Explained with Example
Introduction Searching is a common operation in computer science used to find an element in a list or array. Two widely used searching techniques are Linear Search and Binary Search . Both algorithms are frequently asked in data structures exams and interviews . This article explains the difference between Linear Search and Binary Search in a simple and exam-oriented way. What is Linear Search? Linear Search is the simplest searching algorithm. It searches for an element by checking each element one by one from the beginning of the list until the element is found or the list ends. How Linear Search Works Start from the first element Compare it with the search key If it matches, stop the search If not, move to the next element Repeat until the element is found Linear Search works on both sorted and unsorted arrays . What is Binary Search? Binary Search is a faster searching algorithm that works on a sorted array . It follows the divide and conquer tech...