NIST

nonbalanced merge sort

(algorithm)

Definition: A k-way merge sort in which the number of input and output data streams is different for any particular pass. Typically P input streams are merged and distributed to T output streams on one pass followed by a merge of the T inputs and distribution to P outputs.

See also merge sort, simple merge, balanced merge sort.

Author: ASK


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Entry modified 16 May 2005.
HTML page formatted Mon Feb 2 13:10:40 2015.

Cite this as:
Art S. Kagel, "nonbalanced merge sort", in Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures [online], Vreda Pieterse and Paul E. Black, eds. 16 May 2005. (accessed TODAY) Available from: http://www.nist.gov/dads/HTML/nonbalncmsrt.html