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Quick Sort: A Powerful Sorting Algorithm Simplified

Zartaj Nadeem
3 min readNov 24, 2024

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Quick Sort is one of the most efficient ways to organize data. Known for its speed and simplicity, it’s a go-to choice for programmers and data enthusiasts. This algorithm uses the divide-and-conquer strategy to sort an array, breaking it into smaller parts, sorting them, and then combining them into a sorted whole. Its clever approach makes it faster than many other methods, especially for large datasets.

What is Quick Sort All About?

At its core, Quick Sort relies on selecting a “pivot” element from the array and then arranging the other elements around it. Numbers smaller than the pivot are placed to its left, while larger ones go to its right. After this, the process is repeated for the left and right sections of the array until everything is in order.

Breaking Down the Steps

  1. Pick a Pivot:
    The pivot acts as the centerpiece for sorting. Choosing the right pivot can impact the algorithm’s efficiency. Common choices include the first element, the last element, or even the middle. Some advanced techniques use the “median-of-three,” which averages the first, middle, and last elements to find the pivot.
  2. Partition the Array:
    Once the pivot is selected, the array is split into two groups — one with numbers smaller than the pivot and another with numbers larger. The pivot itself settles into its rightful place in the sorted array.
  3. Repeat the Process:
    The algorithm…

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