Implementation of Linear Search Algorithm

In Linear Search, we iterate over all the elements of the array and check if it the current element is equal to the target element. If we find any element to be equal to the target element, then return the index of the current element. Otherwise, if no element is equal to the target element, then return -1 as the element is not found.

Below is the implementation of the linear search algorithm:

C++
// C++ code to linearly search x in arr[].

#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

int search(int arr[], int N, int x)
{
    for (int i = 0; i < N; i++)
        if (arr[i] == x)
            return i;
    return -1;
}

// Driver code
int main(void)
{
    int arr[] = { 2, 3, 4, 10, 40 };
    int x = 10;
    int N = sizeof(arr) / sizeof(arr[0]);

    // Function call
    int result = search(arr, N, x);
    (result == -1)
        ? cout << "Element is not present in array"
        : cout << "Element is present at index " << result;
    return 0;
}
C
// C code to linearly search x in arr[].

#include <stdio.h>

int search(int arr[], int N, int x)
{
    for (int i = 0; i < N; i++)
        if (arr[i] == x)
            return i;
    return -1;
}

// Driver code
int main(void)
{
    int arr[] = { 2, 3, 4, 10, 40 };
    int x = 10;
    int N = sizeof(arr) / sizeof(arr[0]);

    // Function call
    int result = search(arr, N, x);
    (result == -1)
        ? printf("Element is not present in array")
        : printf("Element is present at index %d", result);
    return 0;
}
Java
// Java code for linearly searching x in arr[]. 

import java.io.*;

class GFG {
    public static int search(int arr[], int N, int x)
    {
        for (int i = 0; i < N; i++) {
            if (arr[i] == x)
                return i;
        }
        return -1;
    }

    // Driver code
    public static void main(String args[])
    {
        int arr[] = { 2, 3, 4, 10, 40 };
        int x = 10;

        // Function call
        int result = search(arr, arr.length, x);
        if (result == -1)
            System.out.print(
                "Element is not present in array");
        else
            System.out.print("Element is present at index "
                             + result);
    }
}
Python
# Python3 code to linearly search x in arr[].


def search(arr, N, x):

    for i in range(0, N):
        if (arr[i] == x):
            return i
    return -1


# Driver Code
if __name__ == "__main__":
    arr = [2, 3, 4, 10, 40]
    x = 10
    N = len(arr)

    # Function call
    result = search(arr, N, x)
    if(result == -1):
        print("Element is not present in array")
    else:
        print("Element is present at index", result)
C#
// C# code to linearly search x in arr[].

using System;

class GFG {
    public static int search(int[] arr, int N, int x)
    {
        for (int i = 0; i < N; i++) {
            if (arr[i] == x)
                return i;
        }
        return -1;
    }

    // Driver's code
    public static void Main()
    {
        int[] arr = { 2, 3, 4, 10, 40 };
        int x = 10;

        // Function call
        int result = search(arr, arr.Length, x);
        if (result == -1)
            Console.WriteLine(
                "Element is not present in array");
        else
            Console.WriteLine("Element is present at index "
                              + result);
    }
}

// This code is contributed by DrRoot_
Javascript
// Javascript code to linearly search x in arr[].

function search(arr, n, x)
{
    for (let i = 0; i < n; i++)
        if (arr[i] == x)
            return i;
    return -1;
}

// Driver code

    let arr = [ 2, 3, 4, 10, 40 ];
    let x = 10;
    let n = arr.length;

    // Function call
    let result = search(arr, n, x);
    (result == -1)
        ? console.log("Element is not present in array")
        : console.log("Element is present at index " + result);

// This code is contributed by Manoj
PHP
<?php
// PHP code for linearly search x in arr[].

function search($arr, $n, $x)
{
    for($i = 0; $i < $n; $i++) {
        if($arr[$i] == $x)
            return $i;
    }
    return -1;
}

// Driver Code
$arr = array(2, 3, 4, 10, 40); 
$x = 10;

// Function call
$result = search($arr, sizeof($arr), $x);
if($result == -1)
    echo "Element is not present in array";
else
    echo "Element is present at index " ,
                                 $result;

// This code is contributed
// by jit_t
?>

Output
Element is present at index 3

Introduction to Linear Search Algorithm

Linear Search Algorithm is defined as a sequential search algorithm that starts at one end and goes through each element of a list until the desired element is found, otherwise the search continues till the end of the data set. In this article, we will learn about the basics of Linear Search Algorithm, Applications, Advantages, Disadvantages, etc. to provide a deep understanding of Linear Search.

Table of Content

  • What is Linear Search Algorithm?
  • Algorithm for Linear Search Algorithm
  • How Does Linear Search Algorithm Work?
  • Implementation of Linear Search Algorithm
  • Time and Space Complexity of Linear Search Algorithm
  • Applications of Linear Search Algorithm
  • Advantages of Linear Search Algorithm
  • Disadvantages of Linear Search Algorithm
  • When to use Linear Search Algorithm?
  • Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Linear Search Algorithm

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What is Linear Search Algorithm?

Linear Search is a method for searching an element in a collection of elements. In Linear Search, each element of the collection is visited one by one in a sequential fashion to find the desired element. Linear Search is also known as Sequential Search....

Algorithm for Linear Search Algorithm:

The algorithm for linear search can be broken down into the following steps:...

How Does Linear Search Algorithm Work?

In Linear Search Algorithm,...

Implementation of Linear Search Algorithm:

In Linear Search, we iterate over all the elements of the array and check if it the current element is equal to the target element. If we find any element to be equal to the target element, then return the index of the current element. Otherwise, if no element is equal to the target element, then return -1 as the element is not found....

Time and Space Complexity of Linear Search Algorithm:

Time Complexity:...

Applications of Linear Search Algorithm:

Unsorted Lists: When we have an unsorted array or list, linear search is most commonly used to find any element in the collection.Small Data Sets: Linear Search is preferred over binary search when we have small data sets with Searching Linked Lists: In linked list implementations, linear search is commonly used to find elements within the list. Each node is checked sequentially until the desired element is found.Simple Implementation: Linear Search is much easier to understand and implement as compared to Binary Search or Ternary Search....

Advantages of Linear Search Algorithm:

Linear search can be used irrespective of whether the array is sorted or not. It can be used on arrays of any data type.Does not require any additional memory.It is a well-suited algorithm for small datasets....

Disadvantages of Linear Search Algorithm:

Linear search has a time complexity of O(N), which in turn makes it slow for large datasets.Not suitable for large arrays....

When to use Linear Search Algorithm?

When we are dealing with a small dataset.When you are searching for a dataset stored in contiguous memory....

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Linear Search Algorithm:

1. What is linear search algorithm?...

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