insertion sort simply explained

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insertion sort: a simple explanation

insertion sort is a straightforward and intuitive sorting algorithm that builds a sorted array (or list) one element at a time. it works similarly to how you might sort playing cards in your hands: you take one card at a time and insert it into the correct position among the already sorted cards.

how it works

1. **start with the second element**: the first element is considered sorted.
2. *compare the current element* with the elements in the sorted portion (to its left).
3. *shift larger elements* to the right to make space for the current element.
4. *insert the current element* into its correct position.
5. *repeat* for all elements in the array.

characteristics

**time complexity**:
best case: o(n) (when the array is already sorted)
average case: o(n^2)
worst case: o(n^2) (when the array is sorted in reverse order)
**space complexity**: o(1) (in-place sorting)
**stable**: yes (equal elements maintain their relative order)

code example

here’s a simple implementation of insertion sort in python:



explanation of the code

1. **function definition**: the function `insertion_sort` takes a list `arr` as its parameter.
2. **outer loop**: we iterate from the second element to the last element in the array.
3. **key element**: the `key` variable holds the current element we want to position.
4. **inner loop**: we compare the `key` with the elements in the sorted portion of the array (to its left). if the sorted elements are greater than the `key`, we shift them to the right.
5. **inserting the key**: once we find the correct position for the `key`, we insert it.

output

if you run the provided code, you will see:



conclusion

insertion sort is a simple and effective algorithm for small datasets or partially sorted arrays. while it may not be the most efficient for large datasets compared to more advanced algorithms like quick sort or merge sort, it’s easy to understand and implement.

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