Comb Sort Visualization

DESCRIPTION

Comb Sort is an in-place comparison-based sorting algorithm that improves upon Bubble Sort by eliminating small swaps and accelerating the sorting process. It works by introducing a gap between compared elements and gradually reducing this gap in each iteration.

The algorithm starts with a large gap (typically the size of the array) and reduces it in each iteration using a shrink factor, commonly set to 1.3. When the gap becomes 1, Comb Sort behaves similarly to Bubble Sort but with fewer swaps, making it more efficient.

Comb Sort has an average time complexity of O(n log n) in practical cases, though the worst-case complexity can reach O(n²). The shrink factor significantly affects performance, and an optimal choice ensures better efficiency.

One key advantage of Comb Sort is its ability to reduce the number of swaps in early passes, making it significantly faster than Bubble Sort. It performs well for datasets with many small elements spread throughout the array.

Comb Sort is commonly used in scenarios where a simple yet efficient sorting algorithm is required, such as sorting large datasets with minimal memory overhead. It is also useful in embedded systems and real-time applications where execution speed is important.