Radix Sort Algorithm: A Simple and Efficient Sorting Technique in Python

Radix Sort is a non-comparative sorting algorithm that sorts data with integer keys by grouping the digits of each key into significant positions. In this blog, we will explore the implementation of Radix Sort in Python.

Radix Sort Algorithm

The basic idea behind Radix Sort is to sort data by comparing each digit of the numbers in the input array. It works by performing a stable sort on each digit position from the least significant digit (LSD) to the most significant digit (MSD). The algorithm first sorts the least significant digit and then moves on to the next significant digit until all digits are sorted.

Here's the algorithm for Radix Sort:

Find the maximum number in the array.

Count the number of digits in the maximum number.

For each digit position from LSD to MSD:

• Sort the input array based on the current digit position.
• Repeat the above step for all digits positions.

Return the sorted array.

Radix Sort Implementation in Python

Let's implement the Radix Sort algorithm in Python:

def radix_sort(arr):
    max_num = max(arr)
    digit_count = len(str(max_num))
    
    for i in range(digit_count):
        # Create buckets for each digit (0-9)
        buckets = [[] for j in range(10)]
        
        # Group numbers by digit position
        for num in arr:
            digit = (num // 10 ** i) % 10
            buckets[digit].append(num)
        
        # Flatten the buckets and update the input array
        arr = [num for bucket in buckets for num in bucket]
    
    return arr

In the radix_sort function, we first find the maximum number in the input array and count the number of digits in it. We then loop through each digit position from LSD to MSD and create buckets for each digit.

Next, we group the numbers in the input array by their digit position and add them to the corresponding buckets. We then flatten the buckets and update the input array with the sorted numbers.

Finally, we return the sorted array.

Conclusion

Radix Sort is a simple and efficient sorting algorithm that can be used to sort data with integer keys. It works by grouping the digits of each key into significant positions and sorting the keys based on those digits. The implementation of Radix Sort in Python requires only a few lines of code, making it an excellent choice for sorting large datasets.

Here is detail on each sorting algorithm in python