Wall-L merge sort: A tunable and adaptive sorting algorithm for diverse computing environments

Mohammad Abdur Rob, Md Zakir Hossen, Md Kamal Hossen, Md Mithun Ali and Bhaskor Roy

PLOS ONE, 2026, vol. 21, issue 2, 1-18

Abstract: Sorting algorithms play a crucial role in computing, but most are designed with rigid structure that are only efficient under certain conditions. Although some sorting algorithms perform well in some circumstances, they do not perform well on some resistant platforms. This study introduces Wall-L Merge Sort, which combines quadratic sorting with a modifiable multi-layer merging approach. By setting a single parameter, L, which determines the number of merge layers, Wall-L Sort shows a transition in the time complexity from O(n2) to O(nlogn) without any modification in the unique idea. This degree of freedom enables a broad variety of input sizes to be encompassed and expands to several constraint platforms. The results show that Wall-L Sort and K-way Merge Sort have the built-in ability to handle different situations where other algorithms fail without assistance functions. Wall-L Merge Sort is the only sorting algorithm that combines complexity tuning, cache efficiency, recursion depth control, parallelism, and broad adaptability into one framework. It may not be the best choice for every situation, but its flexibility makes it a good fit for many different platforms, from small embedded systems to big computing systems. The theoretical and empirical evidence in this paper substantiates these advantages.

Date: 2026
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0341993

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0341993

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