ordersorting

Ordersorting, or order sorting, is the process of arranging a collection of items in a sequence according to a defined total order. In computer science, sorting organizes data by a key or comparator to enable efficient searching, merging, and analysis.

Elements are assigned keys that establish the desired order. Sorting can be performed in memory (internal sorting) or with data stored externally when datasets are large.

Common algorithms include quicksort, mergesort, heapsort, and insertion sort. Counting sort and radix sort handle data with bounded integer keys and can achieve linear time under suitable conditions. Algorithm choice affects stability, memory use, and performance guarantees.

Stability matters for multi-key sorts because equal keys should preserve their relative order. Some algorithms are stable by design, while others require modification.

Sorting supports multi-key ordering by using composite keys or by applying stable sorts in sequence. Lexicographic and numeric orders are typical, with custom comparators enabling domain-specific rankings.

Applications include database query processing, data analytics pipelines, file systems, and search indexing. Sorting is a foundational operation that facilitates grouping, deduplication, and efficient lookup.

Many programming languages provide built-in sorting utilities with options for stability and custom comparators, and parallel or distributed sorts are used for large-scale data.