AQA A’Level SLR05 Linear search
About this video
AQA Specification Reference
A Level 4.3.4.1
An alternative to the binary search, the linear search methodically checks each item in a list until the one you are looking for is found. This video introduces the algorithm. It is usually less efficient than a binary search, unless the item you are looking for is towards the start of the list.
Key questions:
- Can you successfully implement a linear search in a high level programming language of your choice?
- Do you understand how a linear search works, and can you trace its code to explain how it works?
00:00 Linear search
00:07 Intro
00:12 What is the linear search algorithm?
00:45 What are the applications of a linear search?
01:07 Visualising a linear search
01:15 Linear search pseudocode
03:05 Linear search coded in Python
06:37 Efficiency of a linear search
07:30 Final thoughts
11:44 Key questions
12:03 Essential algorithms and data structures text book
12:51 Outro
Last updated: 14.04.25
