What are some real-world examples of space complexity?

What are some real-world examples of space complexity?

Space complexity refers to the amount of memory space required by an algorithm as a function of the input size. A real-world example is sorting algorithms like Merge Sort, which requires additional space proportional to the input size.

Can you explain why Merge Sort has a higher space complexity?

Sure! Merge Sort divides the array into smaller subarrays, and it requires additional space to store these subarrays during the merging process, leading to a space complexity of O(n).

Are there algorithms with lower space complexity?

Yes, algorithms like Quick Sort can have lower space complexity, often O(log n), because they sort in place without needing extra storage for subarrays.

What about practical applications of these algorithms?

Merge Sort is often used in external sorting applications, like sorting large files that don't fit into memory, while Quick Sort is commonly used in programming languages for its efficiency.