What is Linear Search?

Linear search is a simple way to find a specific item in a list. It checks each item one by one from the
start until it finds the target or reaches the end.

- Linear search checks each item one by one.

- It continues until it finds the target or reaches the end.

- Simple but can be slow if the list is very long.

Linear search using a simple example with a 1-dimensional static array containing some
delicious dessert names.

Imagine this array:

Index: 1 2 3 4 5

Values: "chocolate brownie" "apple crumble" "red velvet" "ice-cream" "tiramisu"

How does it work?

Suppose you want to find `"ice-cream"` in our array.

Step-by-step process:

1. **Start at the first element (index 1):**

Is `"chocolate brownie"` equal to `"ice-cream"`? No.

2. **Move to the next element (index 2):**

Is `"apple crumble"` equal to `"ice-cream"`? No.

3. **Next (index 3):**

Is `"red velvet"` equal to `"ice-cream"`? No.

4. **Next (index 4):**

Is `"ice-cream"` equal to `"ice-cream"`? Yes!

We found our item.

5. **Stop searching.**

The search is complete, and we've found the item at index 4.

What if the item isn't in the list?

If you look for `"cheesecake"` and it's not in the array, you will check all items and reach the end without
finding it. In that case, the search concludes that the item is **not present**.
 A simple pseudo code for performing a linear search on a 1D static array containing the given
dessert names – which will include steps from declaration, initialization, inputting values, and
then performing the linear search.

Method A: Values entered during Initialisation

Declare desserts: Array[1:5] of String // Step 1: Declare an array to hold dessert names

// Step 2: Initialize the array with dessert names

desserts[0] = "chocolate brownie" // For simplicity, assume values are already assigned as shown

desserts[1] = "apple crumble"

desserts[2] = "red velvet"

desserts[3] = "ice-cream"

desserts[4] = "tiramisu" // (Optional) Step 3: Input values into the array if not hardcoded

Input "Enter the dessert to search for: ", searchvalue // Step 4: Ask the user to input the dessert to search for

// Step 5: Initialize a variable to keep track of search result

found_index  -1 // -1 means not found

// Step 6: Loop through each element in the array to find searchvalue

for i from 1 to 5 do

if desserts[i] equals searchvalue then

found_index = i

Output “Search Successfull !”

end if

end for

// Step 7: Check if found and output the result

if found_index <> -1 then

Output "Dessert found at position " + (found_index)

else

Output "Dessert not found in the list."

end if
Method A: Values input within a loop into the array

Declare desserts: Array[1:5] of String // Step 1: Declare an array to hold dessert names

// Step 2: Initialize the array with dessert names

For i = 1 to 5 do

desserts[0] = " "

endfor

// Step 3: Input values into the array if not assigned during initialisation

For I = 1 to 5 do

Input "Enter the dessert name “, desserts[i]

endfor

Input "Enter the dessert to search for: ", searchvalue // Step 4: Ask the user to input the dessert to search for

// Step 5: Initialize a variable to keep track of search result

found_index  -1 // -1 means not found

// Step 6: Loop through each element in the array to find searchvalue

for i from 1 to 5 do

if desserts[i] equals searchvalue then

found_index = i

Output “Search Successfull !”

end if

end for

// Step 7: Check if found and output the result

if found_index <> -1 then

Output "Dessert found at position " + (found_index)

else

Output "Dessert not found in the list."

end if

Note: index, found_index have not be declared

Sub Main()

Dim desserts(1 To 5) As String ' Step 1: Declare an array to hold dessert names

Dim i As Integer

Dim searchValue As String

Dim foundIndex As Integer = -1 ' Initialize a variable to keep track of search result

For i = 1 To 5 ' Step 2: Initialize the array with blank strings

desserts(i) = " "

Next

For i = 1 To 5 ' Step 3: Input values into the array

Console.Write("Enter the dessert name for position " & i & ": ")

desserts(i) = Console.ReadLine()

Next

Console.Write("Enter the dessert to search for: ") ' Step 4: Ask the user to input the dessert to search for

searchValue = Console.ReadLine()

For i = 1 To 5 ' Step 5: Loop through each element in the array to find searchValue

If desserts(i) = searchValue Then

foundIndex = i

Console.WriteLine("Search Successful!")

Exit For ' Exit loop once found

End If

Next

If foundIndex <> -1 Then ' Step 7: Check if found and output the result

Console.WriteLine("Dessert found at position " & foundIndex)

Else

Console.WriteLine("Dessert not found in the list.")

End If

Console.WriteLine("Press any key to exit.") ' Wait for user input before closing

Console.ReadKey()

End Sub

End Module