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What are the Different Searching Techniques in C language?

There are several searching techniques that can be used to search for an element in an array in C language. Some common techniques include linear search, binary search, and hash table search.

  1. Linear search: This is the simplest and most intuitive search technique, where the elements of the array are compared sequentially with the search key until a match is found or the end of the array is reached. Linear search is simple to implement, but it is not very efficient for large arrays.
  2. Binary search: This search technique is based on the divide-and-conquer approach, and it is used to search for an element in a sorted array. Binary search works by dividing the array into two halves, and comparing the search key with the middle element. If the search key is less than the middle element, the search is repeated in the left half of the array. If the search key is greater than the middle element, the search is repeated in the right half of the array. Binary search is more efficient than linear search, but it requires the array to be sorted.
  3. Hash table search: This search technique uses a hash function to map the search key to a specific position in an array, called a hash table. The hash function takes the search key as input, and returns an integer value that represents the position of the element in the hash table. Hash table search is efficient for large arrays, but it requires the use of a hash function and a hash table, which can be complex to implement.

These are some common searching techniques that can be used to search for an element in an array in C language. You can choose the appropriate technique based on the size of the array, the data type of the elements, and the efficiency of the algorithm.