Algorithms For Dummies

 

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Comparisons: To move data from one location in a dataset to another, you 

need to know where to move it, which means comparing the target data to 

other data in the dataset. Having fewer comparisons means better performance.

 

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Exchanges: Depending on how you write an algorithm, the data may not get 

to its final location in the dataset on the first try. The data might actually move 

several times. The number of exchanges affects speed considerably because 

now you’re actually moving data from one location to another in memory. 

Fewer and smaller exchanges (such as when using indexes) means better 

performance.