Merge Sort Program in Java: Difference Between Merge Sort & Quicksort

Introduction to the Merge Sort Program in JAVA

As the name suggests, the merge sort program in JAVA is a sorting algorithm. It has been classically conceptualized as the divide and conquer algorithm in JAVA. The merge sort program in Java works by recursively breaking down an input array into two or more of its constituent sub-problems until these are simple enough to be solved directly. 

The constituent sub-problems can either be similar or somewhat related to the parent problem. The individual solutions to each sub-problem are then combined to attain the solution to the original parent problem. 

Quicksort and Merge Sort program in Java are two well-liked and effective ways for sorting components in Java programmes in the realm of sorting algorithms. Both algorithms use distinct methods and each has its pros and drawbacks. This review will examine the variations between Merge Sort and Quicksort with an emphasis on how they are implemented in Java.

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How Does the Java Merge Sort Programme Operate?

The merge sort Java code is a divide-and-conquer algorithm, as mentioned earlier. It is a stable sort, which implies that throughout the sorting process, the array items keep their initial positions about one another. 

• Divide: An input array is split into its two components in this stage. There are no more half arrays to divide after performing this step on each of the resulting half arrays.
• Conquer: To create the final sorted array, the separated arrays are sorted and merged from bottom to top in this stage. 

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How Does the Merge Sort Program in Java Work?

As iterated earlier, the merge sort program in JAVA is a divide and conquer algorithm. It is a stable sort which means that the array elements maintain their original positions relative to each other throughout the sorting process. 

• Divide: In this step, an input array is divided into its two constituent halves. This step is continually repeated for all the resultant half arrays until there are no more half arrays to divide further.
• Conquer: In this step, the divided arrays are sorted and merged from bottom to top to reach the final sorted array. 

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Difference Between Quicksort and Merge Sort Program in Java

Although functionally similar, pertinent emphasis must be laid upon the fundamental difference between quicksort and mergesort in JAVA. 

• Mechanism: Quicksort is an internal, in-place sorting algorithm, whereas mergesort is an external, out-of-place sorting algorithm. In quicksort, elements are sorted basis a key element known as the pivot. The pivot is generally the middle value in an input array. Elements with a lesser value than the pivot are pushed to the pivot’s left side, while elements with a greater value to the pivot’s right side. Here, the left side is referred to as the left partition, and the right side is referred to as the right partition. Contrarily, mergesort splits an array into two sub-arrays (n/2) repeatedly until only one element is left. It then combines the sub-arrays to form the sorted array. 
• Application: While quicksort is suitable for small arrays, mergesort works with any array, regardless of its size. 
• Speed: In the case of quicksort, the smaller the dataset, the faster the algorithm. Mergesort, on the other hand, works at a consistent speed for all data sets. 
• Space requirement and memory usage: As mentioned earlier, mergesort is an external, out-of-place sorting algorithm. Its space complexity is O (n). Therefore, it requires an additional storage of (O (n)) to sort the auxiliary array.

1. Approach:

• The Merge Sort in Java program divides the array repeatedly into two halves until each subarray has just one element. This approach is known as divide-and-conquer. The subarrays are then combined in a sorted fashion.
• Quicksort divides the array into two subarrays based on a pivot element using a partitioning approach. The left side of the pivot is used for items that are smaller than it, and the right side is used for elements that are larger than it. Until the entire array is sorted, the procedure is repeated on the subarrays.

2. Performance:

• Merge Sort program in Java is effective for handling enormous datasets because it always ensures an O(n log n) time complexity. However, at the merging stage, it needs more RAM for the temporary arrays.
• Quicksort: Quicksort typically has a time complexity of O(n log n), but in the worst situation, it can drop to O(n2). Compared to Merge Sort, it requires less RAM and has a smaller constant factor.

3. Stability:

• Merge Sort program in Java is a stable sorting algorithm, which means that it maintains the relative order of equal elements while they are sorted.
• Quicksort: Quicksort is unstable by default. However, changes might be made at the expense of added complexity to retain stability.

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Time- Complexity Analysis of Merge Sort Program in JAVA

The merge sort program in JAVA has a time complexity of O (n*log n). According to Binary Search, whenever a number is divided into half in every step, it can be represented by the logarithmic function ‘log n’. The number of steps (at most) can be represented by log n +1. The middle of any sub-array is O (1).

Thus, to merge the sub-arrays, a running time of O (n) will be required. Hence, the total time for the merge sort program in JAVA becomes n (log n +1). This amounts to a time complexity of O (n*log n) in all the three cases (worst, average and best) as merge sort always takes linear time to merge two halves. 

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Summing Up

In conclusion, choosing the best sorting algorithm for a particular case requires a grasp of the distinctions between Merge Sort and Quicksort. Both techniques have advantages and disadvantages, and Java’s implementation of both makes array sorting effective. When implementing sorting algorithms in their Java programmes, developers can make well-informed choices by taking into account aspects like stability, performance, and memory utilisation.

Just as sorted data for humans is logically sound and easier to comprehend, sorted arrays are more manageable for computers to work with. This is where the merge sort program in JAVA proves advantageous. It is an efficient, general-purpose, comparison-based sorting algorithm. 

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