Heap Sort is a comparison-based sorting algorithm that uses a binary heap data structure to sort elements.
It combines the speed of Quick Sort with the consistent performance of Merge Sort, making it an excellent choice for systems requiring guaranteed O(n log n) time complexity.
Heap Sort operates in two main phases. The first phase transforms the input array into a max heap. The second phase repeatedly removes the maximum element.
Before diving into Heap Sort, it is important to understand the heap data structure.
Heap Sort is essential for understanding priority queues, and is also common in technical interviews.
The author provides code examples of Heap Sort implementation in Python and JavaScript.
Heap Sort has O(n log n) time complexity, O(1) extra space and is not stable but efficient for large datasets
Some practical applications of Heap Sort include process scheduling, memory management, I/O request handling, and sorting large files in databases.
Optimization strategies for Heap Sort include iterative heapify, bottom-up heap construction, and cache-friendly implementations.
Common pitfalls and solutions for Heap Sort include array index calculation, heap size management, and handling edge cases.