Merge sort (also commonly spelled mergesort) is an O(n log n) comparison-based sorting algorithm. Most implementations produce a stable sort, which means that the implementation preserves the input order of equal elements in the sorted output. Merge sort is a divide and conquer algorithm that was invented by John von Neumann in 1945. A detailed description and analysis of bottom-up mergesort appeared in a report by Goldstine and Neumann as early as 1948.
Read more about Merge Sort: Algorithm, Natural Merge Sort, Analysis, Use With Tape Drives, Optimizing Merge Sort, Parallel Processing, Comparison With Other Sort Algorithms, Utility in Online Sorting
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—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)
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—Socrates (469–399 B.C.)