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Bubble Sort

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from typing import Any


def bubble_sort_iterative(collection: list[Any]) -> list[Any]:
    """Pure implementation of bubble sort algorithm in Python

    :param collection: some mutable ordered collection with heterogeneous
    comparable items inside
    :return: the same collection ordered by ascending

    Examples:
    >>> bubble_sort_iterative([0, 5, 2, 3, 2])
    [0, 2, 2, 3, 5]
    >>> bubble_sort_iterative([])
    []
    >>> bubble_sort_iterative([-2, -45, -5])
    [-45, -5, -2]
    >>> bubble_sort_iterative([-23, 0, 6, -4, 34])
    [-23, -4, 0, 6, 34]
    >>> bubble_sort_iterative([0, 5, 2, 3, 2]) == sorted([0, 5, 2, 3, 2])
    True
    >>> bubble_sort_iterative([]) == sorted([])
    True
    >>> bubble_sort_iterative([-2, -45, -5]) == sorted([-2, -45, -5])
    True
    >>> bubble_sort_iterative([-23, 0, 6, -4, 34]) == sorted([-23, 0, 6, -4, 34])
    True
    >>> bubble_sort_iterative(['d', 'a', 'b', 'e']) == sorted(['d', 'a', 'b', 'e'])
    True
    >>> bubble_sort_iterative(['z', 'a', 'y', 'b', 'x', 'c'])
    ['a', 'b', 'c', 'x', 'y', 'z']
    >>> bubble_sort_iterative([1.1, 3.3, 5.5, 7.7, 2.2, 4.4, 6.6])
    [1.1, 2.2, 3.3, 4.4, 5.5, 6.6, 7.7]
    >>> bubble_sort_iterative([1, 3.3, 5, 7.7, 2, 4.4, 6])
    [1, 2, 3.3, 4.4, 5, 6, 7.7]
    >>> import random
    >>> collection_arg = random.sample(range(-50, 50), 100)
    >>> bubble_sort_iterative(collection_arg) == sorted(collection_arg)
    True
    >>> import string
    >>> collection_arg = random.choices(string.ascii_letters + string.digits, k=100)
    >>> bubble_sort_iterative(collection_arg) == sorted(collection_arg)
    True
    """
    length = len(collection)
    for i in reversed(range(length)):
        swapped = False
        for j in range(i):
            if collection[j] > collection[j + 1]:
                swapped = True
                collection[j], collection[j + 1] = collection[j + 1], collection[j]
        if not swapped:
            break  # Stop iteration if the collection is sorted.
    return collection


def bubble_sort_recursive(collection: list[Any]) -> list[Any]:
    """It is similar iterative bubble sort but recursive.

    :param collection: mutable ordered sequence of elements
    :return: the same list in ascending order

    Examples:
    >>> bubble_sort_recursive([0, 5, 2, 3, 2])
    [0, 2, 2, 3, 5]
    >>> bubble_sort_iterative([])
    []
    >>> bubble_sort_recursive([-2, -45, -5])
    [-45, -5, -2]
    >>> bubble_sort_recursive([-23, 0, 6, -4, 34])
    [-23, -4, 0, 6, 34]
    >>> bubble_sort_recursive([0, 5, 2, 3, 2]) == sorted([0, 5, 2, 3, 2])
    True
    >>> bubble_sort_recursive([]) == sorted([])
    True
    >>> bubble_sort_recursive([-2, -45, -5]) == sorted([-2, -45, -5])
    True
    >>> bubble_sort_recursive([-23, 0, 6, -4, 34]) == sorted([-23, 0, 6, -4, 34])
    True
    >>> bubble_sort_recursive(['d', 'a', 'b', 'e']) == sorted(['d', 'a', 'b', 'e'])
    True
    >>> bubble_sort_recursive(['z', 'a', 'y', 'b', 'x', 'c'])
    ['a', 'b', 'c', 'x', 'y', 'z']
    >>> bubble_sort_recursive([1.1, 3.3, 5.5, 7.7, 2.2, 4.4, 6.6])
    [1.1, 2.2, 3.3, 4.4, 5.5, 6.6, 7.7]
    >>> bubble_sort_recursive([1, 3.3, 5, 7.7, 2, 4.4, 6])
    [1, 2, 3.3, 4.4, 5, 6, 7.7]
    >>> import random
    >>> collection_arg = random.sample(range(-50, 50), 100)
    >>> bubble_sort_recursive(collection_arg) == sorted(collection_arg)
    True
    >>> import string
    >>> collection_arg = random.choices(string.ascii_letters + string.digits, k=100)
    >>> bubble_sort_recursive(collection_arg) == sorted(collection_arg)
    True
    """
    length = len(collection)
    swapped = False
    for i in range(length - 1):
        if collection[i] > collection[i + 1]:
            collection[i], collection[i + 1] = collection[i + 1], collection[i]
            swapped = True

    return collection if not swapped else bubble_sort_recursive(collection)


if __name__ == "__main__":
    import doctest
    from random import sample
    from timeit import timeit

    doctest.testmod()

    # Benchmark: Iterative seems slightly faster than recursive.
    num_runs = 10_000
    unsorted = sample(range(-50, 50), 100)
    timer_iterative = timeit(
        "bubble_sort_iterative(unsorted[:])", globals=globals(), number=num_runs
    )
    print("\nIterative bubble sort:")
    print(*bubble_sort_iterative(unsorted), sep=",")
    print(f"Processing time (iterative): {timer_iterative:.5f}s for {num_runs:,} runs")

    unsorted = sample(range(-50, 50), 100)
    timer_recursive = timeit(
        "bubble_sort_recursive(unsorted[:])", globals=globals(), number=num_runs
    )
    print("\nRecursive bubble sort:")
    print(*bubble_sort_recursive(unsorted), sep=",")
    print(f"Processing time (recursive): {timer_recursive:.5f}s for {num_runs:,} runs")
About this Algorithm

Problem Statement

Given an unsorted array of n elements, write a function to sort the array

Approach

  • select the first element of the array
  • compare it with its next element
  • if it is larger than the next element then swap them
  • else do nothing
  • keep doing this for every index of the array
  • repeat the above process n times.

Time Complexity

O(n^2) Worst case performance

O(n) Best-case performance

O(n^2) Average performance

Space Complexity

O(1) Worst case

Founder's Name

  • The term “Bubble Sort” was first used by Iverson, K in 1962.

Example

arr[] = {10, 80, 40, 30}
Indexes: 0   1   2   3    

1. Index = 0, Number = 10
2. 10 < 80, do nothing and continue

3. Index = 1, Number = 80
4. 80 > 40, swap 80 and 40
5. The array now is {10, 40, 80, 30}

6. Index = 2, Number = 80
7. 80 > 30, swap 80 and 30
8. The array now is {10, 40, 30, 80}

Repeat the Above Steps again

arr[] = {10, 40, 30, 80}
Indexes: 0   1   2   3   

1. Index = 0, Number = 10
2. 10 < 40, do nothing and continue

3. Index = 1, Number = 40
4. 40 > 30, swap 40 and 30
5. The array now is {10, 30, 40, 80}

6. Index = 2, Number = 40
7. 40 < 80, do nothing
8. The array now is {10, 30, 40, 80}

Repeat the Above Steps again

arr[] = {10, 30, 40, 80}
Indexes: 0   1   2   3   

1. Index = 0, Number = 10
2. 10 < 30, do nothing and continue

3. Index = 1, Number = 30
4. 30 < 40, do nothing and continue

5. Index = 2, Number = 40
6. 40 < 80, do nothing

Since there are no swaps in above steps, it means the array is sorted and we can stop here.

Video Explanation

A video explaining the Bubble Sort Algorithm

Others

Bubble sort is also known as Sinking sort.

Animation Explanation