From: milind.a.joshi@gmail.com   
      
   davidgt0@yahoo.com wrote:   
   > Hi everyone,   
   >   
   > I was wondering if anyone heard of a search algorithm that has the   
   > search time almost constant regardless of the volume of data searched.   
   >   
   > Does anyone know which is the fastest search algorithm that performs   
   > well for very large volumes of data?   
   >   
   > Thanks a lot.   
   > David   
   >   
      
   Hi David,   
      
   I agree with the others, that there is no one algorithm that can do   
   perfectly well for all kinds of data.   
      
   Would you mind telling us what your application area is? If yes, people   
   would be able to suggest various algorithms and optimization   
   techniques, but otherwise, you could consult the literature yourself.   
      
   That said, actual performance and user-perceived performance are two   
   different things.   
      
   Basically, if you can create indices of the possible search queries,   
   and simply query your index when your user requests a search, you   
   should have extremely good perceived performance. If your indices are   
   not returning what the user's looking for, build more of them, build   
   indices of indieces, or make them bigger or better.   
      
      
   Milind Joshi   
   IDEA TECHNOSOFT INC.   
   http://www.ideatechnosoft.com   
      
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