(definition)
Definition: An algorithm where the relative order upon input of items with equal keys is always preserved in the output. Usually a sort algorithm.
Note: Many different operations, such as sort, merge, and select the minimum using a priority queue, can be stable.
Suppose we need to order the following people by age: Max, age 45, Brodsky (19), David (21), Carla (45), and Liang (19). A stable sort would yield Brodsky (19), Liang (19), David (21), Max (45), and Carla (45). Note that Brodsky still precedes Liang, and Max still precedes Carla. A sort that is not stable may put Liang before or after Brodsky and Carla before or after Max. A radix sort requires each phase to be stable.
Many algorithms can be turned into a stable variant by appending the original position to the key. When otherwise-equal keys are compared, the positions "break the tie" and the original order is maintained.
From Algorithms and Theory of Computation Handbook, and is 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.
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Cite this as:
Algorithms and Theory of Computation Handbook, CRC Press LLC, 1999, "stable", 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/stable.html