Algorithms Analysis Practice Test 2025 – All-in-One Mastery Guide to Exam Success

Binary Search is the most efficient algorithm for searching in a sorted array because it takes advantage of the array's sorted nature. Instead of examining each element sequentially, as in Linear Search, Binary Search works by repeatedly dividing the search interval in half.

Here’s how it operates: Initially, it checks the middle element of the array. If this middle element matches the target value, the search is successful. If the target value is less than the middle element, the search continues in the left half of the array, while if the target value is greater, the search continues in the right half. This process is repeated, halving the search space with each step, resulting in a time complexity of O(log n).

In contrast, Linear Search examines each element one by one, leading to a time complexity of O(n), which is significantly less efficient, especially for large datasets. Depth First Search and Dijkstra’s Algorithm are not applicable for this context, as they are designed for traversing graphs rather than searching within arrays.