(definition)
Definition: Any sort algorithm using comparisons between keys, and nothing else about the keys, to arrange items in a predetermined order. An alternative is a restricted universe sort such as counting sort or bucket sort.
See also quicksort, insertion sort.
Note: From Algorithms and Theory of Computation Handbook, page 3-23, Copyright © 1999 by CRC Press LLC. Appearing in the Dictionary of Computer Science, Engineering and Technology, Copyright © 2000 CRC Press LLC.
Author: CRC-A
If you have suggestions, corrections, or comments, please get in touch with Paul Black.
Entry modified 17 December 2004.
HTML page formatted Mon Feb 2 13:10:39 2015.
Cite this as:
Algorithms and Theory of Computation Handbook, CRC Press LLC, 1999, "comparison sort", in
Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures [online], Vreda Pieterse and Paul E. Black, eds. 17 December 2004. (accessed TODAY)
Available from: http://www.nist.gov/dads/HTML/comparisnsrt.html