What Sorting Algorithms Does JavaScript\'s Array.sort() Use?

JavaScript Array.sort() Sorting Algorithm

The JavaScript Array#sort() function employs different algorithms depending on the type of array it encounters.

Numeric Arrays:

For numeric arrays or those containing primitive types, std::qsort is utilized from the C standard library. This function implements a variation of quicksort, often known as introsort.

Contiguous Non-Numeric Arrays:

These arrays are converted into strings and undergo sorting via merging, if available. Concatenated mergesort promotes stable sorting. When merging is unavailable, qsort is utilized instead.

Non-Contiguous Arrays and Associative Arrays:

For such arrays, WebKit applies either the selection sort (referred to as "min" sort) or sorting via an AVL tree. The documentation for these cases is ambiguous, requiring code path analysis to determine the assigned sort method.

Additional Considerations:

The JavaScript Array#sort() function supports a wide range of arguments and functions to facilitate customized sorting. It is essential to recognize that the sorting algorithm employed by the vanilla sort will vary based on the array's data structure.

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