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Merge Sort Algorithm
In this tutorial, you will learn about merge sort algorithm and its
implementation in C, C++, Java and Python.
Merge Sort is one of the most popular sorting algorithms
(h!ps://www.programiz.com/dsa/sorting-algorithm) that is based on the
principle of Divide and Conquer Algorithm (/dsa/divide-and-conquer).
Here, a problem is divided into multiple sub-problems. Each sub-problem
is solved individually. Finally, sub-problems are combined to form the
final solution.
Merge Sort example
Divide and Conquer Strategy
Using the Divide and Conquer technique, we divide a problem into
subproblems. When the solution to each subproblem is ready, we
'combine' the results from the subproblems to solve the main problem.
Suppose we had to sort an array A . A subproblem would be to sort a
sub-section of this array starting at index p and ending at index r ,
denoted as A[p..r] .
Divide
If q is the half-way point between p and r, then we can split the subarray
A[p..r] into two arrays A[p..q] and A[q+1, r] .
Conquer
In the conquer step, we try to sort both the subarrays A[p..q] and
A[q+1, r] . If we haven't yet reached the base case, we again divide both
these subarrays and try to sort them.
Combine
When the conquer step reaches the base step and we get two sorted
subarrays A[p..q] and A[q+1, r] for array A[p..r] , we combine the
results by creating a sorted array A[p..r] from two sorted subarrays
A[p..q] and A[q+1, r] .
MergeSort Algorithm
The MergeSort function repeatedly divides the array into two halves until
we reach a stage where we try to perform MergeSort on a subarray of
size 1 i.e. p == r .
A"er that, the merge function comes into play and combines the sorted
arrays into larger arrays until the whole array is merged.
MergeSort(A, p, r):
if p > r
return
q = (p+r)/2
mergeSort(A, p, q)
mergeSort(A, q+1, r)
merge(A, p, q, r)
To sort an entire array, we need to call MergeSort(A, 0, length(A)-1) .
As shown in the image below, the merge sort algorithm recursively
divides the array into halves until we reach the base case of array with 1
element. A"er that, the merge function picks up the sorted sub-arrays
and merges them to gradually sort the entire array.
Merge sort in action
The merge Step of Merge Sort
Every recursive algorithm is dependent on a base case and the ability to
combine the results from base cases. Merge sort is no different. The most
important part of the merge sort algorithm is, you guessed it, merge step.
The merge step is the solution to the simple problem of merging two
sorted lists(arrays) to build one large sorted list(array).
The algorithm maintains three pointers, one for each of the two arrays
and one for maintaining the current index of the final sorted array.
Have we reached the end of any of the arrays?
No:
Compare current elements of both arrays
Copy smaller element into sorted array
Move pointer of element containing smaller element
Yes:
Copy all remaining elements of non-empty array
Merge step
Writing the Code for Merge Algorithm
A noticeable difference between the merging step we described above
and the one we use for merge sort is that we only perform the merge
function on consecutive sub-arrays.
This is why we only need the array, the first position, the last index of the
first subarray(we can calculate the first index of the second subarray)
and the last index of the second subarray.
Our task is to merge two subarrays A[p..q] and A[q+1..r] to create a
sorted array A[p..r] . So the inputs to the function are A, p, q and r
The merge function works as follows:
1. Create copies of the subarrays L <- A[p..q] and M <- A[q+1..r] .
2. Create three pointers i , j and k
a. i maintains current index of L , starting at 1
b. j maintains current index of M , starting at 1
c. k maintains the current index of A[p..q] , starting at p .
3. Until we reach the end of either L or M , pick the larger among the
elements from L and M and place them in the correct position at
A[p..q]
4. When we run out of elements in either L or M , pick up the remaining
elements and put in A[p..q]
In code, this would look like:
// Merge two subarrays L and M into arr
void merge(int arr[], int p, int q, int r) {
// Create L ← A[p..q] and M ← A[q+1..r]
int n1 = q - p + 1;
int n2 = r - q;
int L[n1], M[n2];
for (int i = 0; i < n1; i++)
L[i] = arr[p + i];
for (int j = 0; j < n2; j++)
M[j] = arr[q + 1 + j];
// Maintain current index of sub-arrays and main array
int i, j, k;
i = 0;
j = 0;
k = p;
// Until we reach either end of either L or M, pick larger among
// elements L and M and place them in the correct position at A[p..r]
while (i < n1 && j < n2) {
if (L[i] <= M[j]) {
arr[k] = L[i];
i++;
} else {
arr[k] = M[j];
j++;
}
Merge( ) Function Explained Step-By-Step
A lot is happening in this function, so let's take an example to see how
this would work.
As usual, a picture speaks a thousand words.
Merging two consecutive subarrays of array
The array A[0..5] contains two sorted subarrays A[0..3] and A[4..5] .
Let us see how the merge function will merge the two arrays.
void merge(int arr[], int p, int q, int r) {
// Here, p = 0, q = 4, r = 6 (size of array)
Step 1: Create duplicate copies of sub-arrays to be sorted
// Create L ← A[p..q] and M ← A[q+1..r]
int n1 = q - p + 1 = 3 - 0 + 1 = 4;
int n2 = r - q = 5 - 3 = 2;
int L[4], M[2];
for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++)
L[i] = arr[p + i];
// L[0,1,2,3] = A[0,1,2,3] = [1,5,10,12]
for (int j = 0; j < 2; j++)
M[j] = arr[q + 1 + j];
// M[0,1] = A[4,5] = [6,9]
Create copies of subarrays for merging
Step 2: Maintain current index of sub-arrays and main array
int i, j, k;
i = 0;
j = 0;
k = p;
Maintain indices of copies of sub array and main array
Step 3: Until we reach the end of either L or M, pick larger among
elements L and M and place them in the correct position at
A[p..r]
while (i < n1 && j < n2) {
if (L[i] <= M[j]) {
arr[k] = L[i]; i++;
}
else {
arr[k] = M[j];
j++;
}
k++;
}
Comparing individual elements of sorted subarrays until we reach end of one
Step 4: When we run out of elements in either L or M, pick up the
remaining elements and put in A[p..r]
// We exited the earlier loop because j < n2 doesn't hold
while (i < n1)
{
arr[k] = L[i];
i++;
k++;
}
Copy the remaining elements from the first array to main subarray
// We exited the earlier loop because i < n1 doesn't hold
while (j < n2)
{
arr[k] = M[j];
j++;
k++;
}
}
Copy remaining elements of second array to main subarray
This step would have been needed if the size of M was greater than L.
At the end of the merge function, the subarray A[p..r] is sorted.
Merge Sort Code in Python, Java, and C/C++
Python Java C C++
# MergeSort in Python
def mergeSort(array):
if len(array) > 1:
# r is the point where the array is divided into two subarrays
r = len(array)//2
L = array[:r]
M = array[r:]
# Sort the two halves
mergeSort(L)
mergeSort(M)
i = j = k = 0
# Until we reach either end of either L or M, pick larger among
# elements L and M and place them in the correct position at A[p..r]
while i < len(L) and j < len(M):
if L[i] < M[j]:
array[k] = L[i]
i += 1
else:
array[k] = M[j]
j += 1
k += 1
# When we run out of elements in either L or M,
Merge Sort Complexity
Time Complexity
Best O(n*log n)
Worst O(n*log n)
Average O(n*log n)
Space Complexity O(n)
Stability Yes
Time Complexity
Best Case Complexity: O(n*log n)
Worst Case Complexity: O(n*log n)
Average Case Complexity: O(n*log n)
Space Complexity
The space complexity of merge sort is O(n) .
Merge Sort Applications
Inversion count problem
External sorting
E-commerce applications
Similar Sorting Algorithms
1. Quicksort (/dsa/quick-sort)
2. Insertion Sort (/dsa/insertion-sort)
3. Selection Sort (/dsa/selection-sort)
4. Bucket Sort (/dsa/bucket-sort)
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Tutorial: Tutorial: (/dsa/quick-
(/dsa/insertion-
sort)
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