Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Definition
Linear search is a simple searching algorithm that checks each element in a list one by one until it finds a match or reaches the end of the list. It is commonly used when there is no specific order or structure to the data.