Sorting Visualizer 70 Page Report
Sorting Visualizer 70 Page Report
Sorting Visualizer 70 Page Report
Sorting Visualizer
A PROJECT REPORT
Submitted By
Anurag Singh(21BCS7744)
Abhinav
Prabhat(21BCS7368)
Utkarsh gupta (21BCS7143)
Pratiksha Gupta (21BCS7086)
Akrit Gupta (21BCS7796)
`
Bachelor of Engineering
in
Computer Science and Engineering
Chandigarh University
JUL-DEC, 2024
DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTER
SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
CHANDIGARH UNIVERSITY
GHARUAN, MOHALI
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BONAFIDE CERTIFICATE
Certified that this project report “Sorting Visualizer” is the bonafide work of “Anurag
Singh, Abhinav Prabhat, Utkarsh Gupta, Pratiksha Gupta, Akrit Gupta” who
carried out the project work under my/our supervision.
SIGNATURE SIGNATURE
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TABLE OF CONTENT
Candidate’s Declaration 1
Abstract 3
Acknowledgement 4
List of Tables 4
1. Introduction
1.1 PURPOSE 6
1.4 TIMELINE 7
1.5 ORGANIZATION OF THE REPORT
2. Literature Review/Background Study
2.5 OBJECTIVE
3. Design Flow/Process
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3.4 DESIGN FLOW & SELECTION
6. REFERENCE
7. APPENDIX
8. USER MANUAL
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CHAPTER-1
INTRODUCTION
Students: This tool is primarily aimed at students learning computer science or software
engineering, particularly those studying algorithms and data structures. It serves as an
educational aid to help them visualize and understand sorting algorithms.
Educators and Instructors: Teachers and professors can use this visualizer as a teaching tool
to demonstrate how different sorting algorithms work, making their lessons more interactive and
engaging.
Need:
Interactive Learning: Modern education increasingly favors interactive and visual learning
experiences. The need for tools that cater to different learning styles, including visual and
kinesthetic learners, is growing. The Sorting Visualizer addresses this need by offering an
interactive platform where users can manipulate data and observe how different sorting algorithms
handle it.
Self-Paced Learning: Students often require additional practice outside of the classroom to fully
grasp complex concepts. A Sorting Visualizer allows learners to experiment with different
algorithms at their own pace, reinforcing their understanding and allowing for independent
exploration.
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algorithms.
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Integration of Technology in Education: The push towards integrating technology into
education has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted the importance
of digital learning tools. A Sorting Visualizer fits within this broader trend of using technology
to enhance educational outcomes, offering an engaging way to learn about a key computer
science concept.
Identify and select a range of sorting algorithms (e.g., Bubble Sort, Quick Sort, Merge
Sort, Insertion Sort, etc.) to be visualized in the tool. Understand their complexities,
behavior, and typical use cases.
Design an intuitive and user-friendly interface that allows users to input data, select a
sorting algorithm, and watch the sorting process unfold in real-time. The interface should
be engaging and easy to navigate.
Develop real-time animations that visually represent the step-by-step execution of each
sorting algorithm. Ensure that the animations clearly illustrate key operations like
comparisons, swaps, and recursive calls.
Conduct thorough testing to ensure that the visualizer accurately represents each sorting
algorithm's behavior and that the tool is free of bugs. Validate the tool’s effectiveness by
gathering user feedback and making necessary adjustments.
Create detailed documentation that explains how to use the visualizer, along with
educational content that provides background information on each sorting algorithm.
This could include descriptions, pseudo-code, and complexity analysis.
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Deployment and Accessibility:
1.4 TIMELINE
Chapter 2: Requirements Analysis: Details the requirements gathered from the client and users.
Chapter 3: System Design: Describes the architecture and design of the platform.
Chapter 4: Implementation: Discusses the technical aspects and challenges faced during
development.
Chapter 5: Testing and Quality Assurance: Presents the testing processes and outcomes.
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CHAPTER 2
LITERATURE REVIEW/BACKGROUND STUDY
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Year Milestone Description
Growth of
- Libraries like p5.js and D3.js gained
Open-Source
2018 popularity, allowing developers to create
Visualization
custom visualizations.
Libraries
In the realm of sorting visualizers, various existing solutions have been developed to enhance
understanding of sorting algorithms through visual representation. Below are some notable approaches
and tools:
1. Web-Based Visualizers:
Sorting Visualizer by Tushar Roy: A popular web application that visualizes multiple
sorting algorithms with interactive features.
VisuAlgo: An educational tool that provides visualizations for various algorithms,
including sorting, with detailed explanations.
2. Desktop Applications:
VisuAlgo: A desktop application that allows users to visualize sorting algorithms and
other data structures, providing a hands-on learning experience.
Sorting Algorithm Visualizer: A standalone application that demonstrates sorting
algorithms with customizable input sizes and types.
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3. Educational Platforms:
Khan Academy: Offers interactive lessons and visualizations for sorting algorithms,
making it accessible for learners.
GeeksforGeeks: Provides articles and visualizations for various sorting algorithms,
along with code implementations.
4. Open-Source Projects:
GitHub Repositories: Numerous open-source projects are available on GitHub,
showcasing different implementations of sorting visualizers in various programming
languages.
CodePen Examples: Developers share their sorting visualizers on CodePen, allowing
for easy experimentation and modification.
5. Mobile Applications:
Sorting Algorithms Visualizer: Mobile apps that allow users to visualize sorting
algorithms on their smartphones, providing a convenient learning tool.
1. Research Trends-
Growing Interest: There is a significant increase in research focusing on educational tools for
algorithm visualization, particularly in the last decade.
Emerging Methodologies: Emphasis on interactive learning methodologies, gamification, and
adaptive learning technologies to enhance user engagement and understanding.
2. Citations-
Highly Cited Works: Key studies have received extensive citations, indicating their influence on
educational practices and methodologies.
Notable Papers: Works such as "Visualizing Algorithms" and "Teaching Sorting Algorithms
through Interactive Tools" are frequently referenced in recent literature.
3. Journals-
Leading Publications: Prominent journals include: - Journal of Computer Science
Education - ACM Transactions on Computing Education - IEEE Transactions on
Education- International Journal of Educational Technology in Higher Education
Publication Trends: A noticeable rise in publications related to sorting visualization in these
journals, especially in the last five years.
4. Keywords-
Common Keywords: Frequently used keywords in research articles include: - Sorting
Algorithms - Visualization Tools - Educational Technology - Interactive Learning - Algorithm
Efficiency
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Keyword Trends: Increasing use of terms related to "gamification" and "adaptive learning" in
recent studies.
5. Collaboration Networks-
Research Collaborations: Increasing collaboration among researchers from different institutions
and disciplines, enhancing the breadth and depth of studies in algorithm visualization.
Network Analysis: Visualization of co-authorship networks indicates strong partnerships between
universities and industry researchers.
6. Funding Sources-
Research Grants: Significant funding from educational institutions and government bodies aimed at
improving STEM education through innovative tools.
Industry Partnerships: Collaborations with tech companies to develop educational software and
tools that incorporate sorting algorithms.
7. Impact Factor-
Citation Metrics: Analysis of citation metrics indicates a high impact factor for journals publishing
research on algorithm visualization, reflecting the importance of this area in educational
technology.
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4. Real-Time Interaction:
Existing solutions often lack real-time interactivity, limiting users' ability to manipulate
data sets and observe sorting processes dynamically.
The need for immediate feedback during the learning process is critical for effective
understanding.
5. Customization and Flexibility:
Many existing tools provide limited options for customizing input data sets or selecting
specific algorithms for visualization.
Users often require the ability to explore different scenarios and algorithm behaviours
based on their specific interests or educational goals.
2.5 Objectives
1. Develop an Interactive Visualization Tool: Create a platform that allows users to visualize
various sorting algorithms in real-time, facilitating a deeper understanding of their mechanics.
3. Support Diverse Learning Styles: Design the tool to offer multiple modes of learning,
including visual, textual, and hands-on approaches to cater to different preferences.
4. Provide Real-Time Feedback: Implement features that allow users to input their data sets,
select algorithms, and receive immediate feedback on the sorting process.
5. Customization Options: Enable users to customize data sets and choose specific algorithms,
allowing for a tailored learning experience that meets individual educational needs.
Significance
The development of an effective Sorting Visualizer addresses the educational gap in understanding
sorting algorithms, promotes active learning, and enhances the overall educational experience. By
providing a platform that is both engaging and educational, we can better equip learners with the skills
needed to understand and apply sorting algorithms in real-world applications.
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CHAPTER 3.
DESIGN FLOW/PROCESS
Fig 3.1
The visualization should be able to display a variety of data types, including arrays, linked lists, and trees.
The visualization should be able to compare different sorting algorithms side-by-side.
The visualization should be able to show how the sorting algorithms perform on different input sizes.
The visualization should be able to provide detailed information about each algorithm, including its time
and space complexity.
The visualization should be able to be used on a variety of devices, including desktops, laptops, tablets, and
smartphones.
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Ease of use: The team should design the user interface to be simple and intuitive. They should also provide
clear instructions and help documentation.
Accessibility: The team should consider how to make the visualization accessible to users with disabilities.
This may involve providing alternative input and output methods, or using accessible design patterns.
Accuracy: The team should carefully validate the visualization against known benchmarks. They should
also consider how to communicate the accuracy of the visualization to users.
Fig 3.2
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CHAPTER 4.
RESULTS ANALYSIS AND VALIDATION
4.1. Implementation of solution
Programming language and framework
The visualization can be implemented in a variety of programming languages and frameworks, such as:
• React Js
• Data structure
The choice of programming language and framework will depend on the specific requirements of the project, such
as the desired performance, features, and target platform. Implementation steps
The following are the general steps involved in implementing the visualization:
1. Develop a data model to represent the sorting algorithms and the data that they will be sorting.
2. Develop algorithms to visualize the sorting algorithms in real time.
3. Develop a user interface to allow users to interact with the visualization.
4. Test the visualization to ensure that it is accurate and easy to use. Detailed implementation plan
Here is a more detailed implementation plan for each of the steps above:
Data model
The data model should represent the following entities:
Sorting algorithms
Data to be sorted
Current state of the sorting process (e.g., which elements have been compared and which elements have
been swapped)
The data model should be designed in a way that makes it easy to implement the visualization algorithms and to
update the user interface in real time.
Visualization algorithms
The visualization algorithms should be able to render the following:
The different sorting algorithms in action
The current state of the sorting process
The performance of the sorting algorithms (e.g., time complexity, space complexity) The visualization
algorithms should be efficient and scalable so that they can handle large datasets and complex sorting
algorithms.
User interface
The user interface should allow users to:
Select the sorting algorithms to compare
Select the data to be sorted
Control the speed of the visualization
Pause and resume the visualization
View the performance of the sorting algorithms The user interface should be designed in a way that is easy
to use and understand.
Testing
The visualization should be thoroughly tested to ensure that it is accurate and easy to use. The following types of
testing should be performed:
• Unit testing to test individual components of the visualization, such as the sorting algorithms and the data model
• Integration testing to test how different components of the visualization work together
• User testing to test the overall usability of the visualization
Deployment
Once the visualization has been implemented and tested, it can be deployed to production. The visualization can
be deployed as a web application, a mobile app, or a desktop application.
CHAPTER 5.
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CONCLUSION AND FUTURE WORK
5.1 Conclusion
The Efficiency in Order: A Comparative Visualization of Sorting Algorithms for Enhanced Algorithmic
Understanding project has the potential to be a valuable tool for students, educators, and professionals who
want to learn about and understand sorting algorithms. By providing a comprehensive, interactive, and
engaging visualization of different sorting algorithms, the project can help users to better understand their
efficiency and how they work.
The project team has carefully considered the requirements and constraints of the project, and has
developed a comprehensive implementation plan. The project team is also committed to making the
visualization accessible to a wide range of users, and to releasing it as open source software.
Overall, the Efficiency in Order project is well-designed and well-conceived. The project team has a clear
vision for the visualization, and has developed a solid plan for implementing it. The project has the
potential to make a significant contribution to the field of algorithmic education.
REFERENCES
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Sorting Algorithm Visualizations in Teaching and Learning (2022), by
E. K. Demirbilek, A. U. Demirbilek, and M. F. Aksoy
A Review of Sorting Algorithm Visualizations (2021), by B. Faria
Comparing the Effectiveness of Different Sorting Algorithm Visualizations (2020), by S. K. Singh and
A. Kumar
A Survey of Sorting Algorithm Visualizations (2018), by A. Khan and M. A. Al-Azzeh
Design and Evaluation of a Sorting Algorithm Visualization Tool (2017), by F. Wang, X. Zhang, and
Y. Wang
A Comparative Study of Sorting Algorithm Visualizations (2016), by S. Khan and M. A. AlAzzeh
Using Visualizations to Teach Sorting Algorithms (2015), by M. A. Al-Azzeh
A New Approach to Sorting Algorithm Visualization (2014), by S. R. Al-Zobaidi and M. H. Hameed
Improving Sorting Algorithm Visualizations (2013), by N. N. Shalah, A. R. Al-Swidi, and K. A. Al-
Omari
CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION
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1.2 Identification of Problem
Traditional methods of teaching algorithms often rely on static diagrams and code walkthroughs, which fail to capture the
dynamic nature of these processes. Students encounter difficulties in visualizing the inner workings of algorithms, leading to
a gap in comprehension, especially for non-linear sorting methods.
1.4 Timeline
The project timeline included phases from requirements gathering, interface design, coding, testing, and user feedback
integration to ensure alignment with educational standards.
2.5 Objectives
Key objectives are:
- To create a customizable sorting visualizer for students and educators
- To enhance understanding through interactive, real-time visualizations
- To support diverse learning styles with multiple algorithm options
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3.3 Analysis and Finalization of Features
After feature selection, we implemented and tested the algorithms for performance, scalability, and ease of use. The user
interface was iteratively refined based on user feedback to enhance clarity and usability.
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