What Is Binary Search?

Binary search is the most efficient searching algorithm having a run-time complexity of O(log₂ N). This algorithm works only on a sorted list of elements.

Binary search begins by comparing the middle element of the list with the target element. If the target value matches the middle element, its position in the list is returned. If it does not match, the list is divided into two halves. The first half consists of the first element to middle element whereas the second half consists of the element next to the middle element to the last element. 

Let's take an example and see how binary search works and number of steps it takes as compared to linear search.