The ideal sorting algorithm would have the following properties[1]:
Stable: Equal keys aren't reordered.
Operates in place, requiring O(1) extra space.
Worst-case O(n·lg(n)) key comparisons.
Worst-case O(n) swaps.
Adaptive: Speeds up to O(n) when data is nearly sorted or when there are few unique keys.
However, there is no algorithm that has all of these properties[1]. The choice of sorting algorithm depends on the specific application and requirements.
Some key considerations when choosing a sorting algorithm include[2][3][4]:
Time complexity (best, average, and worst case)
Space complexity
Stability (whether the relative order of equal elements is preserved)
Whether it operates in-place (requires constant extra space)
Adaptability to already sorted or nearly sorted data
