függvénysort

Függvénysort, meaning "function sort" in Hungarian, refers to a specific sorting algorithm that utilizes function calls to determine the order of elements. Instead of direct numerical or lexicographical comparisons, a predefined function is applied to each pair of elements to generate a value used for comparison. This function can be arbitrary, allowing for custom sorting logic beyond standard comparison operators.

The core idea of a függvénysort is to abstract the comparison process. A typical comparison-based sort, like quicksort or mergesort, relies on a less-than or greater-than operation. In a függvénysort, this operation is replaced by a call to a user-defined function, which takes two elements as input and returns a comparable value. For instance, if sorting objects with multiple attributes, the function could return a weighted sum of those attributes, effectively defining a custom priority.

While powerful for creating flexible sorting mechanisms, függvénysort algorithms can have performance implications. The overhead of function calls can make them slower than optimized built-in sorting functions for simple data types. However, for complex data structures or when a highly specific sorting criterion is required, the ability to define arbitrary comparison logic through a function makes függvénysort a valuable approach. It emphasizes the principle of separation of concerns, where the sorting algorithm itself is generic, and the specific sorting logic is encapsulated within the provided function.