About Insertion Sort
Insertion Sort builds the final sorted array one item at a time. It's much less efficient on large lists than more advanced algorithms such as quicksort, heapsort, or merge sort, but it has several advantages for small datasets or partially sorted data.
Core Concepts
- Adaptive: Efficient for data that is already substantially sorted
- In-place: Requires O(1) additional space
- Stable: Maintains relative order of equal elements
- Time Complexity: O(n²) in worst case, O(n) for nearly sorted data
- Best for: Small datasets or when new items are frequently added
Think of insertion sort like sorting playing cards in your hands. You pick up one card at a time and insert it into its correct position among the cards you're already holding.