Скачать или смотреть Resolving the for loop Freeze in Python's binarySearch Function

Learn how to fix the issue causing your Python `for loop` to freeze during execution of a `binarySearch` function by correcting boundary conditions.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/65949114/ asked by the user 'Karim Kabbara' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/12329833/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/65949276/ provided by the user 'Ezio' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/3827850/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Understanding and Fixing the For Loop Freeze in Your Binary Search Implementation

When developing a program in Python, encountering an infinite loop can be one of the most frustrating experiences. If you’ve found that your for loop is randomly getting stuck—especially within a binarySearch function—you are not alone. In this guide, we will take a closer look at a common problem that developers face and how to successfully solve it.

The Problem: Loop Freezing in the Binary Search

Whether you're a seasoned developer or just starting out, using a for loop and a binary search algorithm can be tricky. In the scenario we are examining, the main function aims to utilize the binarySearch function 10,000 times to accumulate the total number of guesses made. However, the loop occasionally stops working entirely, yielding no output.

Here's a brief overview of the issue:

Symptom: The for loop freezes during execution.

Cause: The logic within the binarySearch function's while loop incorrectly addresses the condition for adjusting the left and right boundary values.

The Solution: Correcting Boundary Conditions

The root cause of the freezing issue lies in how the boundaries of the search space are being adjusted. Let's break down the necessary changes step-by-step.

Identifying the Flaw

In the initial implementation of the binary search logic, the following lines of code are problematic:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

This setup can create an infinite loop because:

If x is less than mid, the search space is not correctly adjusted. By setting left to mid, you're effectively excluding potential candidates.

The Correct Approach

To resolve the infinite loop issue, you should adjust the boundaries as follows:

Updated Code Snippet

Change your code from this:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

To:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

And similar for the case when x is greater than mid:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Final Implementation

Here’s how the corrected binarySearch function now looks:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Conclusion

By making these essential adjustments to the boundary conditions of your binary search algorithm, the freezing issue in your for loop should be resolved. This small but significant change ensures that your code no longer runs into infinite loops, enabling it to complete its execution as intended.

Make sure to test your implementation rigorously to confirm that it works as expected across a variety of scenarios!

If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to drop a comment below!