radiksort

Radix Sort is a non-comparative integer sorting algorithm that sorts data with integer keys by grouping keys by the individual digits which share the same significant position and value. It is an efficient algorithm for sorting large datasets of integers, particularly when the range of the keys is not significantly larger than the number of keys. The algorithm works by processing each digit of the keys, starting from the least significant digit to the most significant digit, or vice versa.

The radix sort algorithm can be implemented using different methods for distributing and collecting keys, such as counting sort or bucket sort. The choice of the method depends on the specific characteristics of the dataset and the desired performance. Radix sort is particularly useful when the keys are uniformly distributed and have a fixed length, as it can achieve a time complexity of O(nk), where n is the number of keys and k is the number of digits in the keys.

Radix sort is not suitable for sorting datasets with floating-point numbers or strings, as it relies on the integer nature of the keys. Additionally, the algorithm may not be efficient for datasets with a large range of keys, as it requires additional space for the distribution and collection steps. Despite these limitations, radix sort remains a popular choice for sorting large datasets of integers due to its simplicity and efficiency.