Definition

Noun: A sort program is a specific type of utility program or software routine designed to arrange a collection of data items into a specific, predetermined order. The order is typically based on the values of one or more keys within each data item, such as alphabetical order for text or numerical order for numbers.

Usage

The term is used to refer to the software tool itself that performs the sorting operation. * The database administrator ran a sort program to organize the customer records by last name. * Efficient sort programs are essential for processing large datasets quickly. * Before analyzing the results, we need to pass the raw data through a sort program.

Advanced Usage

• In computer science, discussing algorithms often involves analyzing the efficiency of different sort programs, such as quicksort, mergesort, or bubble sort implementations.
• The term can be used in a compound form as a noun adjunct, e.g., "sort program algorithm" or "sort program efficiency."

Variants and Related Words

• Sorter: Can be a synonym for a sort program or a person/device that sorts.
• Sorting algorithm: Refers more specifically to the logical procedure or method (e.g., quicksort) that a sort program implements.
• Sort utility: A near-identical term, emphasizing the program's role as a tool.

Synonyms

• Sorter
• Sorting utility
• Sorting routine

Related Phrases

• To run a sort: The action of executing a sort program.
  • We need to run a sort on this file before the merge operation.
• Sort key: The specific field or value used by the sort program to determine the order.
  • The sort program was configured to use the date field as the primary sort key.

Noun

1. a utility program that sorts data items