Data Structures and Algorithms
with Object-Oriented Design Patterns in C++ 
The final class of sorting algorithm considered in this chapter consists of algorithms that sort by distribution . The unique characteristic of a distribution sorting algorithm is that it does not make use of comparisons to do the sorting.
Instead, distribution sorting algorithms rely on a priori
knowledge about the universal set
from which the elements to be sorted are drawn.
For example, if we know a priori that the size of the universe
is a small, fixed constant, say m,
then we can use the bucket sorting algorithm
described in Section 
.
Similarly, if we have a universe the elements of which can be represented
with a small, finite number of bits (or even digits, letters, or symbols),
then we can use the radix sorting algorithm given in Section .
Copyright © 1997 by Bruno R. Preiss, P.Eng. All rights reserved.