NIST

polyphase merge

(algorithm)

Definition: A nonbalanced k-way merge which reduces the number of output files needed by reusing the emptied input file or device as one of the output devices. This is most efficient if the number of output runs in each output file is different.

See also merge, optimal polyphase merge, nonbalanced merge, polyphase merge sort.

Author: ASK


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Entry modified 17 December 2004.
HTML page formatted Mon Feb 2 13:10:40 2015.

Cite this as:
Art S. Kagel, "polyphase merge", in Dictionary of Algorithms and Data Structures [online], Vreda Pieterse and Paul E. Black, eds. 17 December 2004. (accessed TODAY) Available from: http://www.nist.gov/dads/HTML/polyphmerge.html