programming-for-dummies

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Adversarial Search
The simplest way to speed up any search algorithm is to sort the data
beforehand. After a list has been sorted, the computer can use various techniques,
such as block jumping or Fibonacci searching, to speed up the
search.
If data isn’t sorted, it may be possible to use an index. An index works most
effectively when it organizes part of the stored data, such as indexing the
last names of a customer list that contains names, addresses, and phone
numbers. Although indexes can speed up searching, their need for constant
updating makes adding and deleting data slower.
Rather than search through stored data, strategy games, such as chess, must
search through continuously changing data based on the position of the
game pieces. To search through this ever-changing data, strategy games
must rely on techniques to quickly eliminate bad moves so the computer
can spend its time focusing only on evaluating the best moves.