Linear Search

When you answered the question, you probably looked over the items one at a time until you found "Peoria". This is roughly the algorithm known as linear search.

Here is a description of linear search:

• Starting Conditions: You have an array of items and a target.
• Goal: Find the target in the array of items, or report if the target is not present.
• Procedure: Look through the cells of the array one by one, starting with the first cell and ending when either the target is found or every cell has been examined.
• Result: Where the target was found, or a indication that it was not found.
  • For this example: Return the index where the target was found, or -1 if the target was not found.

Look over the array of Strings. Apply the algorithm. Is "Peoria" in the array? Is "Albany" in the array? Is "Mystic" in the array?

0	1	2	3	4	5	6	7
Boston	Albany	Detroit	Phoenix	Peoria	Albany	Houston	Hartford