Linear Search Algorithm

Linear search is easy to implement. It is ideal to use when finding an element within a sorted or unsorted list with a few items. The best-case performance of this search algorithm is O(1), and the worst-case performance is O(n).

Let's say we have 5 shuffled flashcards with random names written on each.

ex:
Robert, Janeth, Samuel, Harold, and Mark

So if we want to find the name Samuel, we need to check each card from the first card until we find a match.

Let's see it in action:

const flashCards = ['Robert', 'Janeth', 'Samuel', 'Harold', 'Mark']

const linearSearch = (flashCards, nameToFind) => {
  for(let i = 0; i < flashCards.length; i++){
      if(flashCards[i] === nameToFind){
          return i
      }
  }
  return -1
}

console.log(linearSearch(flashCards, "Samuel"))

// Output: 2
// Samuel is at the 2nd index of the flashCards array