Describe the odd-even sort algorithm.

Sorting Algorithms Questions Medium



80 Short 66 Medium 49 Long Answer Questions Question Index

Describe the odd-even sort algorithm.

The odd-even sort algorithm is a variation of the bubble sort algorithm that is used to sort a list of elements. It is also known as the brick sort algorithm.

The algorithm works by repeatedly comparing adjacent elements in pairs and swapping them if they are in the wrong order. It starts with two passes: an odd pass and an even pass.

During the odd pass, the algorithm compares and swaps elements at odd indices (1, 3, 5, etc.) with their adjacent element at the next odd index. This ensures that the largest element in the list is moved to its correct position at the end of the list.

During the even pass, the algorithm compares and swaps elements at even indices (0, 2, 4, etc.) with their adjacent element at the next even index. This ensures that the smallest element in the list is moved to its correct position at the beginning of the list.

After each pass, the algorithm checks if any swaps were made. If no swaps were made during a pass, it means that the list is already sorted, and the algorithm terminates. Otherwise, it continues with the next pass.

The odd-even sort algorithm repeats the odd and even passes until the list is completely sorted. It has a time complexity of O(n^2), where n is the number of elements in the list.

Overall, the odd-even sort algorithm is a simple and straightforward sorting algorithm that can be used for small to medium-sized lists. However, it is not as efficient as other sorting algorithms like quicksort or mergesort for larger lists.