What are the Advantages and disadvantages of optimal merge pattern?

Answer 1

The optimal merge pattern efficiently combines multiple sorted files into a single sorted file by minimizing the overall cost of merging, often using a priority queue. Advantages include reduced time complexity and cost, as it minimizes the number of comparisons needed during the merge process. However, its disadvantages include the overhead of maintaining a priority queue and the potential inefficiency when dealing with a small number of files, where simpler methods might be faster. Additionally, it requires additional space for the queue, which can be a limitation in memory-constrained environments.