Arrays.sort()的底层实现原理

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前言

最近在leetcode刷题，遇到挺多Arrays.sort()这个API，今天在牛客网看到有面试官问这个API对于快排做了什么优化，那么面向面试学习的我也要去学习一下啦。

本文基于JDK1.8。

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一、Arrays.sort()总览

先上答案：jdk1.8之前，Arrays.sort()方法使用的是传统快排的方式进行排序。jdk1.8后，Arrays.sort()方法使用的是双轴快排。

双轴快排(DualPivotQuicksort)的基本思想是：

顾名思义有两个轴元素pivot1，pivot2，且pivot ≤pivot2 将序列分成三段：x < pivot1、pivot1 ≤ x ≤ pivot2、x >pivot2 然后分别对三段进行递归

一幅我觉得很好的流程图。图片以及本文主要内容来自深入理解Arrays.sort()底层实现

sort方法进来后，调用了DualPivotQuicksort.sort()。传统快排（单轴快排）的时间复杂度最差的情况为n²，DualPivotQuicksort（双轴快排）能保证大多数数组排序的时间复杂度保持在O(nlogn) 。

/**
 * Sorts the specified array into ascending numerical order.
 *
 * <p>Implementation note: The sorting algorithm is a Dual-Pivot Quicksort
 * by Vladimir Yaroslavskiy, Jon Bentley, and Joshua Bloch. This algorithm
 * offers O(n log(n)) performance on many data sets that cause other
 * quicksorts to degrade to quadratic performance, and is typically
 * faster than traditional (one-pivot) Quicksort implementations.
 *
 * @param a the array to be sorted
 */


public static void sort(int[] a) {
    DualPivotQuicksort.sort(a, 0, a.length - 1, null, 0, 0);
}

数组长度小于286

DualPivotQuicksort.sort()进来后，会碰到第一个阀值：QUICKSORT_THRESHOLD（286），数组长度小于这个阀值的进入插入排序或者Quicksort （快速排序）

static void sort(int[] a, int left, int right,
                 int[] work, int workBase, int workLen) {
    // Use Quicksort on small arrays
    if (right - left < QUICKSORT_THRESHOLD) {
        sort(a, left, right, true);
        return;
    }
    //······
}

数组长度小于47

进入sort(a, left, right, true)，遇到们第二个阀值INSERTION_SORT_THRESHOLD（47）。如果元素少于47这个阀值，就用插入排序。参数leftmost的含义是给定的范围，是不是这个数组最左边的部分。

    private static void sort(int[] a, int left, int right, boolean leftmost) {
        int length = right - left + 1;

        // Use insertion sort on tiny arrays
        if (length < INSERTION_SORT_THRESHOLD) {
            if (leftmost) {
                /*
                 * Traditional (without sentinel) insertion sort,
                 * optimized for server VM, is used in case of
                 * the leftmost part.
                 */
                for (int i = left, j = i; i < right; j = ++i) {
                    int ai = a[i + 1];
                    while (ai < a[j]) {
                        a[j + 1] = a[j];
                        if (j-- == left) {
                            break;
                        }
                    }
                    a[j + 1] = ai;
                }
            } else {
                /*
                 * Skip the longest ascending sequence.
                 */
                do {
                    if (left >= right) {
                        return;
                    }
                } while (a[++left] >= a[left - 1]);

                /*
                 * Every element from adjoining part plays the role
                 * of sentinel, therefore this allows us to avoid the
                 * left range check on each iteration. Moreover, we use
                 * the more optimized algorithm, so called pair insertion
                 * sort, which is faster (in the context of Quicksort)
                 * than traditional implementation of insertion sort.
                 */
                for (int k = left; ++left <= right; k = ++left) {
                    int a1 = a[k], a2 = a[left];

                    if (a1 < a2) {
                        a2 = a1; a1 = a[left];
                    }
                    while (a1 < a[--k]) {
                        a[k + 2] = a[k];
                    }
                    a[++k + 1] = a1;

                    while (a2 < a[--k]) {
                        a[k + 1] = a[k];
                    }
                    a[k + 1] = a2;
                }
                int last = a[right];

                while (last < a[--right]) {
                    a[right + 1] = a[right];
                }
                a[right + 1] = last;
            }
            return;
        }

数组长度大于等于47

如果大于47这个阀值，则选择一种快速排序的方法：选出e1,e2,e3,e4,e5五个点，将数组等分为6份，称为 “基准”（pivot）；针对这个5个元素，进行插入排序。

// Inexpensive approximation of length / 7
        int seventh = (length >> 3) + (length >> 6) + 1;


        /*
         * Sort five evenly spaced elements around (and including) the
         * center element in the range. These elements will be used for
         * pivot selection as described below. The choice for spacing
         * these elements was empirically determined to work well on
         * a wide variety of inputs.
         */
        int e3 = (left + right) >>> 1; // The midpoint
        int e2 = e3 - seventh;
        int e1 = e2 - seventh;
        int e4 = e3 + seventh;
        int e5 = e4 + seventh;


        // Sort these elements using insertion sort
        if (a[e2] < a[e1]) { int t = a[e2]; a[e2] = a[e1]; a[e1] = t; }


        if (a[e3] < a[e2]) { int t = a[e3]; a[e3] = a[e2]; a[e2] = t;
            if (t < a[e1]) { a[e2] = a[e1]; a[e1] = t; }
        }
        if (a[e4] < a[e3]) { int t = a[e4]; a[e4] = a[e3]; a[e3] = t;
            if (t < a[e2]) { a[e3] = a[e2]; a[e2] = t;
                if (t < a[e1]) { a[e2] = a[e1]; a[e1] = t; }
            }
        }
        if (a[e5] < a[e4]) { int t = a[e5]; a[e5] = a[e4]; a[e4] = t;
            if (t < a[e3]) { a[e4] = a[e3]; a[e3] = t;
                if (t < a[e2]) { a[e3] = a[e2]; a[e2] = t;
                    if (t < a[e1]) { a[e2] = a[e1]; a[e1] = t; }
                }
            }
        }

选取a[e2]，a[e4]分别作为pivot1，pivot2。由于进行了插入排序，pivot1 <=pivot2 。定义两个指针less和great。less从最左边开始向右遍历，一直找到第一个不小于pivot1的元素；great从右边开始向左遍历，一直找到第一个不大于pivot2的元素。

 /*
         * Use the second and fourth of the five sorted elements as pivots.
         * These values are inexpensive approximations of the first and
         * second terciles of the array. Note that pivot1 <= pivot2.
         */
        int pivot1 = a[e2];
        int pivot2 = a[e4];
        /*
         * The first and the last elements to be sorted are moved to the
         * locations formerly occupied by the pivots. When partitioning
         * is complete, the pivots are swapped back into their final
         * positions, and excluded from subsequent sorting.
         */
        a[e2] = a[left];
        a[e4] = a[right];
        /*
         * Skip elements, which are less or greater than pivot values.
         */
        while (a[++less] < pivot1);
        while (a[--great] > pivot2);

指针k从less-1开始向右遍历至great，把小于pivot1的元素移动到less左边，大于pivot2的元素移动到great右边。

/*
 * Partitioning:
 *
 *   left part           center part                   right part
 * +--------------------------------------------------------------+
 * |  < pivot1  |  pivot1 <= && <= pivot2  |    ?    |  > pivot2  |
 * +--------------------------------------------------------------+
 *               ^                          ^       ^
 *               |                          |       |
 *              less                        k     great
 *
 * Invariants:
 *
 *              all in (left, less)   < pivot1
 *    pivot1 <= all in [less, k)     <= pivot2
 *              all in (great, right) > pivot2
 *
 * Pointer k is the first index of ?-part.
 */
        outer:
        for (int k = less - 1; ++k <= great; ) {
            int ak = a[k];
            if (ak < pivot1) { // Move a[k] to left part
                a[k] = a[less];
                /*
                 * Here and below we use "a[i] = b; i++;" instead
                 * of "a[i++] = b;" due to performance issue.
                 */
                a[less] = ak;
                ++less;
            } else if (ak > pivot2) { // Move a[k] to right part
                while (a[great] > pivot2) {
                    if (great-- == k) {
                        break outer;
                    }
                }
                if (a[great] < pivot1) { // a[great] <= pivot2
                    a[k] = a[less];
                    a[less] = a[great];
                    ++less;
                } else { // pivot1 <= a[great] <= pivot2
                    a[k] = a[great];
                }
                /*
                 * Here and below we use "a[i] = b; i--;" instead
                 * of "a[i--] = b;" due to performance issue.
                 */
                a[great] = ak;
                --great;
            }
        }

将less-1处的元素移动到队头，great+1处的元素移动到队尾，并把pivot1和pivot2分别放到less-1和great+1处。至此，less左边的元素都小于pivot1，great右边的元素都大于pivot2，分别对两部分进行同样的递归排序。

/*
             * If center part is too large (comprises > 4/7 of the array),
             * swap internal pivot values to ends.
             */
            if (less < e1 && e5 < great) {
                /*
                 * Skip elements, which are equal to pivot values.
                 */
                while (a[less] == pivot1) {
                    ++less;
                }


                while (a[great] == pivot2) {
                    --great;
                }


                /*
                 * Partitioning:
                 *
                 *   left part         center part                  right part
                 * +----------------------------------------------------------+
                 * | == pivot1 |  pivot1 < && < pivot2  |    ?    | == pivot2 |
                 * +----------------------------------------------------------+
                 *              ^                        ^       ^
                 *              |                        |       |
                 *             less                      k     great
                 *
                 * Invariants:
                 *
                 *              all in (*,  less) == pivot1
                 *     pivot1 < all in [less,  k)  < pivot2
                 *              all in (great, *) == pivot2
                 *
                 * Pointer k is the first index of ?-part.
                 */
                outer:
                for (int k = less - 1; ++k <= great; ) {
                    int ak = a[k];
                    if (ak == pivot1) { // Move a[k] to left part
                        a[k] = a[less];
                        a[less] = ak;
                        ++less;
                    } else if (ak == pivot2) { // Move a[k] to right part
                        while (a[great] == pivot2) {
                            if (great-- == k) {
                                break outer;
                            }
                        }
                        if (a[great] == pivot1) { // a[great] < pivot2
                            a[k] = a[less];
                            /*
                             * Even though a[great] equals to pivot1, the
                             * assignment a[less] = pivot1 may be incorrect,
                             * if a[great] and pivot1 are floating-point zeros
                             * of different signs. Therefore in float and
                             * double sorting methods we have to use more
                             * accurate assignment a[less] = a[great].
                             */
                            a[less] = pivot1;
                            ++less;
                        } else { // pivot1 < a[great] < pivot2
                            a[k] = a[great];
                        }
                        a[great] = ak;
                        --great;
                    }
                }
            }


            // Sort center part recursively
            sort(a, less, great, false);

在这里其实有一个分支，如果e1，e2，e3，e4，e5有相等的情况，
则选取a[e3]作为pivot，即经典的单轴快排。

/*
             * Use the third of the five sorted elements as pivot.
             * This value is inexpensive approximation of the median.
             */
            int pivot = a[e3];


            /*
             * Partitioning degenerates to the traditional 3-way
             * (or "Dutch National Flag") schema:
             *
             *   left part    center part              right part
             * +-------------------------------------------------+
             * |  < pivot  |   == pivot   |     ?    |  > pivot  |
             * +-------------------------------------------------+
             *              ^              ^        ^
             *              |              |        |
             *             less            k      great
             *
             * Invariants:
             *
             *   all in (left, less)   < pivot
             *   all in [less, k)     == pivot
             *   all in (great, right) > pivot
             *
             * Pointer k is the first index of ?-part.
             */
            for (int k = less; k <= great; ++k) {
                if (a[k] == pivot) {
                    continue;
                }
                int ak = a[k];
                if (ak < pivot) { // Move a[k] to left part
                    a[k] = a[less];
                    a[less] = ak;
                    ++less;
                } else { // a[k] > pivot - Move a[k] to right part
                    while (a[great] > pivot) {
                        --great;
                    }
                    if (a[great] < pivot) { // a[great] <= pivot
                        a[k] = a[less];
                        a[less] = a[great];
                        ++less;
                    } else { // a[great] == pivot
                        /*
                         * Even though a[great] equals to pivot, the
                         * assignment a[k] = pivot may be incorrect,
                         * if a[great] and pivot are floating-point
                         * zeros of different signs. Therefore in float
                         * and double sorting methods we have to use
                         * more accurate assignment a[k] = a[great].
                         */
                        a[k] = pivot;
                    }
                    a[great] = ak;
                    --great;
                }
            }


            /*
             * Sort left and right parts recursively.
             * All elements from center part are equal
             * and, therefore, already sorted.
             */
            sort(a, left, less - 1, leftmost);
            sort(a, great + 1, right, false);

数组长度大于等于286

数组长度小于286的情况已经介绍完了，当大于等于286的时候先对数组进行一个Check if the array is nearly sorted判断，看看是否适合使用归并排序。这个判断主要作用是看数组具不具备有序结构：每降序为一个组，像1,9,8,7,6,8。9到6是降序，为一个组，然后把降序的一组排成升序：1,6,7,8,9,8。然后最后的8后面继续往后面找。每遇到这样一个降序组，++count，当count大于MAX_RUN_COUNT（67）或者有超过33个相同元素即MAX_RUN_LENGTH（33），被判断为这个数组不具备有序结构，送给之前的sort(int[] a, int left, int right, boolean leftmost)（The array is not highly structured,use Quicksort instead of merge sort）。反之进入归并排序。

// Check if the array is nearly sorted
    for (int k = left; k < right; run[count] = k) {        if (a[k] < a[k + 1]) { // ascending
            while (++k <= right && a[k - 1] <= a[k]);
        } else if (a[k] > a[k + 1]) { // descending
            while (++k <= right && a[k - 1] >= a[k]);            for (int lo = run[count] - 1, hi = k; ++lo < --hi; ) {                int t = a[lo]; a[lo] = a[hi]; a[hi] = t;
            }
        } else { // equal
            for (int m = MAX_RUN_LENGTH; ++k <= right && a[k - 1] == a[k]; ) {                if (--m == 0) {
                    sort(a, left, right, true);                    return;
                }
            }
        }        /*
         * The array is not highly structured,
         * use Quicksort instead of merge sort.
         */
        if (++count == MAX_RUN_COUNT) {
            sort(a, left, right, true);            return;
        }
    }

二、总结

Arrays.sort()并不是单一的排序，而是插入排序，快速排序，归并排序三种排序的组合。数组长度大于或等于47或小于286会进入快排，而在大于或等于286后，会// Check if the array is nearly sorted，即使大于286，但在降序组太多的时候（The array is not highly structured,use Quicksort instead of merge sort），要转回快排。