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Select sort algorithm explained with code and dance

Select sort is a very simple algorithm but it’s very inefficient for large lists, but it is good when memory is an issue, since it is an in-place sorting algorithm. Meaning it is an algorithm that doesn’t need to use extra memory to store sorted from unsorted elements.

The way it works is the following: Take the fist element in the list and compare with the next elements to find the minimum value of the list. If found swap values. Repeat starting with second element and so on until reaching the last element in the list.

Select sort example

Big-O notation

O(n2)

Pseudo code

for each current_element in the list:
  assume_minimum = current_element
  for each element in the list:
     if assume_minimum > element[value]
        assume_minimum = element[value]
  swap current element with assume_minimum values

PHP code example

/**
 * Select sort
 *
 * @param array $list The unsorted list
 * @return array The sorted list
 */
function select_sort($list) {
  for($i = 0; $i <= count($list); $i++) {
      $min_position = $i;
      for($j = $i + 1; $j <= count($list); $j++) {
          if($list[$min_position] > $list[$j]) {
              $min_position = $j;
          }
      }
      list($list[$i], $list[$min_position]) = array($list[$min_position], $list[$i]);
  }
  return $list;
}

Python code example

def select_sort(a_list):
  """ Performs a select sort on list """
  for i in range(0,len(a_list)-1):
    min_position = i
    for j in range(i+1,len(a_list)):
      if a_list[min_position] > a_list[j]:
        min_position = j
    a_list[i], a_list[min_position] = a_list[min_position], a_list[i]
  return a_list

Gypsy folk dance example

By Gabriel Saldaña

Gabriel Saldaña is a web developer, photographer and free software advocate. Connect with him on and Twitter

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