Python Data Structures and Algorithms

Linear Search

Let us focus our discussions on linear search, performed on a typical Python list.

The preceding list has elements that are accessible through the list index. To find an element in the list we employ the linear searching technique. This technique traverses the list of elements, by using the index to move from the beginning of the list to the end. Each element is examined and if it does not match the search item, the next item is examined. By hopping from one item to its next, the list is traversed sequentially.

In treating the sections in this chapter and others, we use a list with integers to enhance our understanding since ...