What are some examples of space complexity in algorithms?

What are some examples of space complexity in algorithms?

Space complexity refers to the amount of memory an algorithm uses relative to the input size. For example, a simple algorithm like finding the maximum number in an array has a space complexity of O(1) because it only uses a fixed amount of space.

Can you give me more examples?

Sure! Another example is the merge sort algorithm, which has a space complexity of O(n) because it requires additional space for the temporary arrays used during the sorting process.

What about recursive algorithms?

Recursive algorithms often have a space complexity of O(n) due to the call stack. For instance, the Fibonacci sequence calculated recursively uses O(n) space.

How does space complexity affect performance?

Space complexity can impact performance, especially in memory-constrained environments. High space usage can lead to slower performance due to increased memory access times or even cause programs to crash if they exceed available memory.