Final answer:
Binary search is an efficient algorithm that requires the array to be sorted. It repeatedly divides the sorted array, narrowing the search down to find the target value, which increases efficiency compared to a sequential search with a time complexity of O(log n).
Step-by-step explanation:
The binary search is a clever algorithm that is much more efficient than the sequential search. Its only requirement is that the values in the array must be sorted in some order.
A binary search works by repeatedly dividing the sorted array in half and determining which half of the array contains the target value, significantly reducing the number of comparisons needed compared to a sequential search. If the target value is less than the midpoint value, the search continues on the lower half; if it's greater, the search continues on the upper half. This process is repeated until the target value is found or the subarray is reduced to zero size, indicating that the target is not in the array.
Binary search is a staple in algorithmic thinking and is taught in many computer science courses due to its efficiency. It has a time complexity of O(log n), making it much faster than a sequential search's O(n) when dealing with large data sets.