Updated April 1, 2023
Difference Between Insertion sort vs Bubble sort
- Computer Science comprises various data structures and algorithms that the user may implement for executing to complete a certain task or to solve any problem. Some classical algorithms are most familiar, such as bubble sort, insertion sort and merge sort, and others.
- While talking about Insertion sort, it is an easy sorting algorithm that functions in the same way as we sort the playing cards in our hands. Here, the array will be practically split into a sorted as well as an unsorted portion. After that, the values available from the unsorted portion will be picked and then positioned correctly in the sorted portion.
- Also, on the other side, the Bubble sort, which is also stated as comparison sort, is the easiest but quite ineffective type of algorithm for sorting, which goes through the list iterating, comparing neighboring items, and doing required swapping if present in an improper order. This bubble sorting is said to be necessary to know since it represents the basic foundations of sorting.
Head to Head Comparison Between Insertion sort vs Bubble sort (Infographics)
Below are the top differences between Insertion sort vs Bubble sort
Key differences between Insertion sort vs Bubble sort
Some of the key differences between Insertion sort vs Bubble sort are given below:
- Basically, sorting can be defined as assembling elements either in descending or ascending order. This technique is approximately classified as internal and external sorting. In the internal sorting, all elements to be sorted are present in the main memory. Similarly, in the external sorting, when few sorts cannot be executed in the main memory, then they are performed on tape or disk.
- In sorting algorithms, Bubble sort is to be considered as the humblest one. Here, the method visits through the entire array and then relates each neighboring number, where it interchanges the numbers, and it lasts till the list be present in ascending order.
- Insertion sort algorithm places an unsorted item at its suitable position in every iteration that occurs through the array. This InsertionSort() function repeats over the array as well as evaluates the two elements at a time with the following algorithm instructions supposing that we need to sort an array having size as v in rising order:
- Repeat from arr[1] to the last arr[v] over the array.
- Match the current item or key to its predecessor.
- If the predecessor is greater than the key element then, it will be compared to the items before.
- Shift the larger items one place up so that it helps to create space for the swapped item
- In addition, when we merge the concepts of sorting algorithm techniques used in both the InsertionSort() and BubbleSort() functions, then it will create a new sorting method known as Merge Sort or the MergeAndSort() function, which works with two arrays while splitting array to compare and sorting respectively. This process may take some time.
- For sorting algorithms, numerical order, as well as lexicographical order, are mostly implemented. In addition, these sorting algorithms give an introduction to a variety of core algorithm ideas that include Big O notation, data structures, divide and conquer algorithms, best, average and worst-case analysis, lower bounds, and time-space tradeoffs.
- For classic sorting algorithms, bad behavior is denoted by O(n2), and good behavior is denoted by O(n log n). Few of the algorithms may be recursive or non-recursive.
- Bubble sort is also known to be Sinking Sort which iterates through the list of data and sorts the adjacent items using the swap technique to avoid wrong order.
- Taking an illustration as a list:
(82531) -> (28531)
Here the bubble sort algorithm works to compare the first two items 8 and 2 and then swaps as 8>2 as 8 is greater than 2. Again, the process repeats in the list until the list is sorted in the correct order in the initial pass as:
(25831)->(25381)->(25318), it ends.
After this, the second pass and a needed third pass will continue unless we get the sorted list. Thus, the Bubble sort goes through the whole array of elements in a pass comparing neighboring ones.
- Taking the previous list for illustrating the insertion sort, then it will work through a pile, firstly getting an element and matching to the primary item, if found greater swaps and then again taking two elements and sorting starts for sorted position and ends up till all elements are invalid order as:
(82531) -> (28531) -> (25831) -> (25381) -> (23581) -> (23518) -> (23158)
-> (21358) -> (12358).
After this, as the list shows an ascended order, the algorithm or insertion sort stops further iteration and generates the output (12358).
Comparison table between Insertion sort vs Bubble sort
Please find the below comparison table for Insertion sort and Bubble Sort with few points:
| Insertion Sort | Bubble Sort |
| It is a simple type of sorting algorithm that creates the last sorted list by shifting one element at a time. | It is a modest algorithm for sorting, which iterates through the list by matching contiguous pairs and then changing them when found in the wrong order. |
| Relocates an item at a time to the partly sorted array. | Checks the adjacent items and then swaps them consequently. |
| This sort is twice as quick as bubble sort. | This sort is leisurelier than the insertion sort. |
| A bit complex than bubble sort. | It is quite an easy and simple one, not much difficult. |
| Best case complexity: O(N) | Best case complexity: O(N) |
| It is adaptive as it delivers a minimum number of steps concentrated for the partially sorted array. | Implements optimized approach, have fewer lines of code being easy to read and is able to be plugged in anywhere in the program. |
| It is stable with less number of swaps with an equally fast running case. | It also defines a stable sort that will not alter the relative order of items having similar keys. |
| It is proficient for small data sets, and this Insertion sort works in the same way as we sort the playing cards. | Bubble sort is actually very beneficial when a user needs to check the top x values available in a list. |
| Time complexity is O(n+d). Here, the d denotes the count of inversions. | Time complexity is O(n^2). |
| In place, it means this sort needs just a constant amount O(1) of extra memory space. | In place, it means using no auxiliary type data structure; the input is transformed having small memory space utilization. |
| Online: this sorting algorithm is able to sort a list of records as it receives them. | It also operates on the data for sorting as delivered. |
Conclusion
- Insertion and Bubble sorts are helpful standard algorithms required for ordering data records properly. If the records can be sorted resourcefully, then that adds value to the sorting algorithms.
- If the sorting algorithms work efficiently, then the time complexity of a given problem can be minimized. But anyhow, among the two sorts, the bubble sort is slower than insertion one as well as the simplest and easy one to execute.
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