brute force string search

(algorithm)

Definition: An algorithm to find a string within another string or body of text by trying each position one at a time. There are many far faster string matching algorithms.

Also known as naive string search.

Author: PEB

Implementation

Christian Charras' and Thierry Lecroq's Exact String Matching Algorithms (C), (C and Pascal)

Go to the Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures home page.

If you have suggestions, corrections, or comments, please get in touch with Paul Black.

Entry modified 16 November 2009.
HTML page formatted Mon Feb 2 13:10:39 2015.

Cite this as:
Paul E. Black, "brute force string search", in Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures [online], Vreda Pieterse and Paul E. Black, eds. 16 November 2009. (accessed TODAY) Available from: http://www.nist.gov/dads/HTML/bruteForceStringSearch.html