Selection Sort Algorithm

It is one of a simple algorithm to study for a beginner to understanding sorting algorithms.

In this algorithm, we start with 0th index value. We compare it in whole array to find if any other number is smaller than this. So effectively, we find the minimum number through rest of the array from our starting index.

And, we swap the numbers of the initial number and the smalles number found in array.

Selection Sort Algorithm

• We start with two loops. Outer loop gives inner loop the index of array to start with.
• Inner array start with the index that outer loop gave.
• Inner loop finds the minimum number
• Swap the indexes, if found the smaller number
• Inner loop breaks, Outer loop move ahead.
• So, we left the smallest number found so far in beginning. And, sort rest of the array

See the code here:

public void sort(int[] arr) {
    int l = arr.length;
    for (int i=0; i<l-1; i++) {
        int smallestNumIndex = i;
        for (int j=i+1; j<l; j++) {
            if (arr[smallestNumIndex] > arr[j]) {
                smallestNumIndex = j;
            }
        }
        if (i != smallestNumIndex) {
            //swap
            int temp = arr[i];
            arr[i] = arr[smallestNumIndex];
            arr[smallestNumIndex] = temp;
        }
    }
}

Graphical Example

Key Points

• Its an in-place sorting algorithm
• Performance is usually worse than Insertion sort
• Applicable for small set of input only
• Its very simple algorithm

Runtime complexity

The algorithm runs on O(n^2) in worst/average case.