External merge sort
Also known as External sort-merge, External sorting. This is the canonical page; those names redirect here.
The databases-query entry was renamed to this canonical spelling 2026-07-21; it stays a distinct unit (a different problem phrase, 'Large-relation sorting') under one consistent algorithm name.
Pairings in the atlas
- K-way run mergingcanonLarge-relation sortingfull lesson ▸databases-query
- Replacement-selection run formationstandardBigger-than-memory sortingsorting
- K-way merge with loser treestandardBigger-than-memory sortingsorting