Merge function

Definition

The merge function in a merge sort algorithm combines two sorted subarrays into a single sorted array. It takes as input two arrays and produces an output array that contains all the elements from both arrays in sorted order.

Related terms

Subarray: A contiguous portion or slice of an array. In merge sort, when dividing an array into smaller parts for sorting, these smaller parts are referred to as subarrays.

Merging Technique: Different algorithms can be used to implement the merge function efficiently, such as using extra memory space or performing merges in-place.

Inversion Count: In some applications, counting inversions (the number of pairs out-of-order) during merging is useful. It can provide insights into how much work needs to be done during sorting.