What is Bubble Sort?

Bubble Sort is a simple sorting algorithm that repeatedly compares adjacent elements and swaps them if they’re in the wrong order. The algorithm gets its name because larger elements “bubble up” to the end of the array like bubbles rising in water.

The Basic Idea

Here’s how bubble sort works conceptually:

Why Learn Bubble Sort?

Even though bubble sort isn’t the fastest algorithm, it’s worth learning because:

1. Simple to understand: The concept is straightforward
2. Easy to implement: Only a few lines of code
3. Builds intuition: Helps understand sorting fundamentals
4. Educational value: Teaches algorithm analysis basics

Visual Example

Watch bubble sort in action:

Click play to see how the algorithm sorts the array. Notice how larger values bubble up to the right.

Key Characteristics

Bubble sort has these properties:

• Stable: Equal elements maintain their relative order
• In-place: Only uses O(1) extra space
• Simple: Easy to understand and code
• Slow: O(n²) time complexity in worst case

Real-World Analogy

Imagine you have a row of people sorted by height. You walk down the line, and whenever you see two people where the taller one is on the left, you swap them. You keep doing this until you can walk the entire line without making any swaps. That’s bubble sort.

When Not to Use It

Bubble sort is rarely used in production because:

• It’s slow for large datasets
• Better algorithms exist (quicksort, mergesort, etc.)
• Modern languages have built-in efficient sorting

But understanding it helps you appreciate why better algorithms matter.

What’s Next?

Now that you know what bubble sort is, let’s see exactly how it works step-by-step.