Java bubble sort algorithm example

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Bubble sort

Bubble sort is a simple sorting algorithm that repeatedly steps through the list to be sorted, compares each pair of adjacent items and swaps them if they are in the wrong order. The pass through the list is repeated until no swaps are needed, which indicates that the list is sorted. The algorithm, which is a comparison sort, is named for the way smaller or larger elements “bubble” to the top of the list. Although the algorithm is simple, it is too slow and impractical for most problems even when compared to insertion sort. Bubble sort can be practical if the input is in mostly sorted order with some out-of-order elements nearly in position. It is also known as sinking sort.

Bubble sort Step-by-step example

Let us take the array of numbers “5 1 4 2 8”, and sort the array from lowest number to greatest number using bubble sort. In each step, elements written in bold are being compared. Three passes will be required.

First Pass

( 5 1 4 2 8 ) ( 1 5 4 2 8 ), Here, algorithm compares the first two elements, and swaps since 5 > 1.
( 1 5 4 2 8 ) ( 1 4 5 2 8 ), Swap since 5 > 4
( 1 4 5 2 8 ) ( 1 4 2 5 8 ), Swap since 5 > 2
( 1 4 2 5 8 ) ( 1 4 2 5 8 ), Now, since these elements are already in order (8 > 5), algorithm does not swap them.

Second Pass

( 1 4 2 5 8 ) ( 1 4 2 5 8 )
( 1 4 2 5 8 ) ( 1 2 4 5 8 ), Swap since 4 > 2
( 1 2 4 5 8 ) ( 1 2 4 5 8 )
( 1 2 4 5 8 ) ( 1 2 4 5 8 )
Now, the array is already sorted, but the algorithm does not know if it is completed. The algorithm needs one whole pass without any swap to know it is sorted.

Third Pass

( 1 2 4 5 8 ) ( 1 2 4 5 8 )
( 1 2 4 5 8 ) ( 1 2 4 5 8 )
( 1 2 4 5 8 ) ( 1 2 4 5 8 )
( 1 2 4 5 8 ) ( 1 2 4 5 8 )

Example

package com.w3schools;
 
public class Test {
     public static void bubbleSort(int array[]) {
        int n = array.length;
        int k;
        for (int m = n; m >= 0; m--) {
            for (int i = 0; i < n - 1; i++) {
                k = i + 1;
                if (array[i] > array[k]) {
                    swapNumbers(i, k, array);
                }
            }
            printNumbers(array);
        }
    }
 
    private static void swapNumbers(int i, int j, int[] array) {  
        int temp;
        temp = array[i];
        array[i] = array[j];
        array[j] = temp;
    }
 
    private static void printNumbers(int[] data) {          
        for (int i = 0; i < data.length; i++) {
            System.out.print(data[i]);
            if(i != data.length-1){
            	System.out.print(", ");
            }
        }
        System.out.println("\n");
    }    
 
    public static void main(String args[]){
	int[] data= {5, 1, 4, 2, 8};      
        bubbleSort(data);  
    }
}

Output

1, 4, 2, 5, 8
 
1, 2, 4, 5, 8
 
1, 2, 4, 5, 8
 
1, 2, 4, 5, 8
 
1, 2, 4, 5, 8
 
1, 2, 4, 5, 8