Question

What does the loop do in the sequential search algorithm? What happens when the value being searched for is found?

Short answer

#tag_question# Explain the role of the loop in the sequential search algorithm and what happens when the searched value is found.

Step-by-step solution

Sequential Search Algorithm Description

Sequential search algorithm is a simple search algorithm where you go through each element in a given list or array sequentially, comparing each element with the searched value until you either find the value or reach the end of the list.

Role of Loop in Sequential Search

The loop plays a crucial role in the sequential search algorithm. It iterates through the list or array, and for each element, it checks if the element matches the searched value. If a match is found, the loop can be terminated.

Algorithm's Behavior When the Value is Found

In a sequential search, when the value being searched for is found, the loop can be terminated early. Typically, the algorithm will return the index of the found value in the list or array. If the value is not found in the list, the algorithm will return a specific indicator (e.g., -1) denoting that the value was not found in the list.

Step-by-Step Solution

Here is a breakdown of the sequential search algorithm in steps: 1. Initialize a variable (e.g., `found`) with a boolean value False (or an indicator value, e.g., -1) to represent whether the searched value has been found or not. 2. Initialize another variable (e.g., `position`) to represent the current position in the list or array. 3. Use a loop (e.g., "while" or "for" loop) to iterate through the list or array. a. Inside the loop, check if the current element of the list (at the position) is equal to the searched value. b. If the current element matches the searched value, update the `found` variable (or return the index of the found value directly). c. If the current element does not match the searched value, move to the next position in the list. 4. Continue iterating through the list until the value is found or end of the list is reached. 5. If the `found` variable is still set to False (or the indicator value) after the loop has completed, it means the value was not found in the list.