Algorithms, 4th Edition

essential information that
every serious programmer
needs to know about
algorithms and data structures

Textbook.

The textbook Algorithms, 4th Edition by Robert Sedgewick and Kevin Wayne [ Amazon · Pearson · InformIT ] surveys the most important algorithms and data structures in use today. The textbook is organized into six chapters:

Chapter 1: Fundamentals introduces a scientific and engineering basis for comparing algorithms and making predictions. It also includes our programming model.
Chapter 2: Sorting considers several classic sorting algorithms, including insertion sort, mergesort, and quicksort. It also includes a binary heap implementation of a priority queue.
Chapter 3: Searching describes several classic symbol table implementations, including binary search trees, red-black trees, and hash tables.
Chapter 4: Graphs surveys the most important graph processing problems, including depth-first search, breadth-first search, minimum spanning trees, and shortest paths.
Chapter 5: Strings investigates specialized algorithms for string processing, including radix sorting, substring search, tries, regular expressions, and data compression.
Chapter 6: Context highlights connections to systems programming, scientific computing, commercial applications, operations research, and intractability.

Applications to science, engineering, and industry are a key feature of the text. We motivate each algorithm that we address by examining its impact on specific applications.

Booksite.

Reading a book and surfing the web are two different activities: This booksite is intended for your use while online (for example, while programming and while browsing the web); the textbook is for your use when initially learning new material and when reinforcing your understanding of that material (for example, when reviewing for an exam). The booksite consists of the following elements:

Excerpts. A condensed version of the text narrative, for reference while online.
Java code. The algorithms and clients in this textbook.
Exercise solutions. Solutions to selected exercises.

To get started.

Here are instructions for setting up our recommended Java programming environment [ Mac OS X · Windows · Linux ].

Online course.

Beginning in August 2012, you can take our free Coursera course [ Algorithms, Part I · Algorithms, Part II ].

To adopt.

Here is a marketing flyer. Here is the preface. If you are considering adoption, you can ask the authors for more information or request an examination copy.