Fast algorithms for sorting and searching strings

Abstract

We present theoretical algorithms for sorting and searching multikey data, and derive from them practical C implementations for applications in which keys are character strings. The sorting algorithm blends Quicksort and radix sort; it is competitive with the best known C sort codes. The searching algorithm blends tries and binary search trees; it is faster than hashing and other commonly used search methods. The basic ideas behind the algorithms date back at least to the 1960s, but their practical utility has been overlooked. We also present extensions to more complex string problems, such as partial-match searching. 1. Introduction Section 2 briefly reviews Hoare's [9] Quicksort and binary search trees. We emphasize a well-known isomorphism relating the two, and summarize other basic facts. The multikey algorithms and data structures are presented in Section 3. Multikey Quicksort orders a set of n vectors with k components each. Like regular Quicksort, it partitions its input into...