AI engineering glossary · Data structures algorithms
What is timsort?
Timsort: A hybrid stable sorting algorithm that finds naturally ordered runs in the data, extends short ones with insertion sort and merges runs. It is O(n log n) worst case and close to O(n) on nearly sorted data, and it is the sort used by Python's sorted and list.sort.
Timsort: an example
Sorting a log file that is already mostly in time order is very fast because Timsort detects the long ordered runs and merges few of them.
Related terms
More Data structures algorithms terms
Where you learn it
Timsort is part of the AI Engineering Program, which teaches it with notes, a hands-on lab and an exam. The first lesson is free.