What are stable sorting algorithms?

Can you explain what stable sorting algorithms are?

Sure! Stable sorting algorithms maintain the relative order of records with equal keys. This means if two items are equal, their original order is preserved in the sorted output.

Can you give me some examples of stable sorting algorithms?

Absolutely! Some common examples include Merge Sort, Bubble Sort, and Insertion Sort.

Why is stability important in sorting?

Stability is important when you want to sort data that has multiple fields. For instance, if you sort by last name and then by first name, a stable sort ensures that the order of first names remains unchanged for those with the same last name.

Are there any stable sorting algorithms that are also efficient?

Yes, Merge Sort is a stable sorting algorithm that has a time complexity of O(n log n), making it efficient for large datasets.