sort.Search()
returns the smallest index i
in [0, n)
at which f(i)
is true
.
Since slice indices are 0-based, you should expect a return of 0
for the first and 1
for the second. It (seemingly) works for the second.
Quoting from the doc:
...assuming that on the range [0, n), f(i) == true
implies f(i+1) == true
. That is, Search requires that f
is false
for some (possibly empty) prefix of the input range [0, n) and then true
for the (possibly empty) remainder; Search returns the first true
index. If there is no such index, Search returns n
.
Your function does not meet the criteria sort.Search()
expects. Your function is not to tell if the element at the specified index is the one you're looking for, but rather to tell:
- if the element at the requested index is equal to or is greater than (return
true
)
- or if the element at the specified index is less than the searched one (return
false
).
(A binary search could not be carried out if you would only tell when they are equal but not when they are greater or less.)
So simply use >=
comparison instead of ==
. Correct usage:
a := []int{2, 2, 3, 4}
i := sort.Search(len(a), func(pos int) bool { return a[pos] >= 2 })
fmt.Printf("%v -> %v
", a, i)
b := []int{1, 2, 2, 3, 4}
j := sort.Search(len(b), func(pos int) bool { return b[pos] >= 2 })
fmt.Printf("%v -> %v
", b, j)
Output (try it on the <kbd>Go Playground</kbd>):
[2 2 3 4] -> 0
[1 2 2 3 4] -> 1
Note: also from the doc:
For instance, given a slice data sorted in ascending order, the call
Search(len(data), func(i int) bool { return data[i] >= 23 })
returns the smallest index i
such that data[i] >= 23
. If the caller wants to find whether 23
is in the slice, it must test data[i] == 23
separately.
Easier alternative: sort.SearchInts()
If you want to search for an int
value in an int
slice ([]int
), simply use sort.SearchInts()
:
a := []int{2, 2, 3, 4}
i := sort.SearchInts(a, 2)
fmt.Printf("%v -> %v
", a, i)
b := []int{1, 2, 2, 3, 4}
j := sort.SearchInts(b, 2)
fmt.Printf("%v -> %v
", b, j)
Output (try it on the <kbd>Go Playground</kbd>):
[2 2 3 4] -> 0
[1 2 2 3 4] -> 1