Ternary Search

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Computer systems use different methods to find specific data. There are various search algorithms, each better suited for certain situations. For instance, a binary search divides information into two parts, while a ternary search does the same but into three equal parts. It's worth noting that ternary search is only effective for sorted data. In this article, we're going to uncover the secrets of Ternary Search – how it works, why it's faster in some situations.

What is the Ternary Search?

Ternary search is a search algorithm that is used to find the position of a target value within a sorted array. It operates on the principle of dividing the array into three parts instead of two, as in binary search. The basic idea is to narrow down the search space by comparing the target value with elements at two points that divide the array into three equal parts.

• mid1 = l + (r-l)/3 
• mid2 = r - (r-l)/3 

When to use Ternary Search:

• When you have a large ordered array or list and need to find the position of a specific value.
• When you need to find the maximum or minimum value of a function.
• When you need to find bitonic point in a bitonic sequence.
• When you have to evaluate a quadratic expression

Working of Ternary Search:

The concept involves dividing the array into three equal segments and determining in which segment the key element is located. It works similarly to a binary search, with the distinction of reducing time complexity by dividing the array into three parts instead of two.

Below are the step-by-step explanation of working of Ternary Search:

1. Initialization:
   • Set two pointers, left and right, initially pointing to the first and last elements of our search space.
2. Divide the search space:
   • Calculate two midpoints, mid1 and mid2, dividing the current search space into three roughly equal parts:
   • mid1 = left + (right - left) / 3
   • mid2 = right - (right - left) / 3
   • The array is now effectively divided into [left, mid1], (mid1, mid2), and [mid2, right].
3. Comparison with Target:.
   • If the target is equal to the element at mid1 or mid2, the search is successful, and the index is returned
   • If the target is less than the element at mid1, update the right pointer to mid1 - 1.
   • If the target is greater than the element at mid2, update the left pointer to mid2 + 1.
   • If the target is between the elements at mid1 and mid2, update the left pointer to mid1 + 1 and the right pointer to mid2 - 1.
4. Repeat or Conclude:
   • Repeat the process with the reduced search space until the target is found or the search space becomes empty.
   • If the search space is empty and the target is not found, return a value indicating that the target is not present in the array.

Illustration:

Implementation:

Below is the implementation of Ternary Search Approach:

// C++ program to illustrate
// recursive approach to ternary search
#include <bits/stdc++.h>
using namespace std;

// Function to perform Ternary Search
int ternarySearch(int l, int r, int key, int ar[])
{
    if (r >= l) {

        // Find the mid1 and mid2
        int mid1 = l + (r - l) / 3;
        int mid2 = r - (r - l) / 3;

        // Check if key is present at any mid
        if (ar[mid1] == key) {
            return mid1;
        }
        if (ar[mid2] == key) {
            return mid2;
        }

        // Since key is not present at mid,
        // check in which region it is present
        // then repeat the Search operation
        // in that region
        if (key < ar[mid1]) {

            // The key lies in between l and mid1
            return ternarySearch(l, mid1 - 1, key, ar);
        }
        else if (key > ar[mid2]) {

            // The key lies in between mid2 and r
            return ternarySearch(mid2 + 1, r, key, ar);
        }
        else {

            // The key lies in between mid1 and mid2
            return ternarySearch(mid1 + 1, mid2 - 1, key, ar);
        }
    }

    // Key not found
    return -1;
}

// Driver code
int main()
{
    int l, r, p, key;

    // Get the array
    // Sort the array if not sorted
    int ar[] = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 };

    // Starting index
    l = 0;

    // end element index
    r = 9;

    // Checking for 5

    // Key to be searched in the array
    key = 5;

    // Search the key using ternarySearch
    p = ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar);

    // Print the result
    cout << "Index of " << key
         << " is " << p << endl;

    // Checking for 50

    // Key to be searched in the array
    key = 50;

    // Search the key using ternarySearch
    p = ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar);

    // Print the result
    cout << "Index of " << key
         << " is " << p << endl;
}

// This code is contributed
// by Akanksha_Rai

// C program to illustrate
// recursive approach to ternary search

#include <stdio.h>

// Function to perform Ternary Search
int ternarySearch(int l, int r, int key, int ar[])
{
    if (r >= l) {

        // Find the mid1 and mid2
        int mid1 = l + (r - l) / 3;
        int mid2 = r - (r - l) / 3;

        // Check if key is present at any mid
        if (ar[mid1] == key) {
            return mid1;
        }
        if (ar[mid2] == key) {
            return mid2;
        }

        // Since key is not present at mid,
        // check in which region it is present
        // then repeat the Search operation
        // in that region

        if (key < ar[mid1]) {

            // The key lies in between l and mid1
            return ternarySearch(l, mid1 - 1, key, ar);
        }
        else if (key > ar[mid2]) {

            // The key lies in between mid2 and r
            return ternarySearch(mid2 + 1, r, key, ar);
        }
        else {

            // The key lies in between mid1 and mid2
            return ternarySearch(mid1 + 1, mid2 - 1, key, ar);
        }
    }

    // Key not found
    return -1;
}

// Driver code
int main()
{
    int l, r, p, key;

    // Get the array
    // Sort the array if not sorted
    int ar[] = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 };

    // Starting index
    l = 0;

    // end element index
    r = 9;

    // Checking for 5

    // Key to be searched in the array
    key = 5;

    // Search the key using ternarySearch
    p = ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar);

    // Print the result
    printf("Index of %d is %d\n", key, p);

    // Checking for 50

    // Key to be searched in the array
    key = 50;

    // Search the key using ternarySearch
    p = ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar);

    // Print the result
    printf("Index of %d is %d", key, p);
}

// Java program to illustrate
// recursive approach to ternary search

class GFG {

    // Function to perform Ternary Search
    static int ternarySearch(int l, int r, int key, int ar[])
    {
        if (r >= l) {

            // Find the mid1 and mid2
            int mid1 = l + (r - l) / 3;
            int mid2 = r - (r - l) / 3;

            // Check if key is present at any mid
            if (ar[mid1] == key) {
                return mid1;
            }
            if (ar[mid2] == key) {
                return mid2;
            }

            // Since key is not present at mid,
            // check in which region it is present
            // then repeat the Search operation
            // in that region

            if (key < ar[mid1]) {

                // The key lies in between l and mid1
                return ternarySearch(l, mid1 - 1, key, ar);
            }
            else if (key > ar[mid2]) {

                // The key lies in between mid2 and r
                return ternarySearch(mid2 + 1, r, key, ar);
            }
            else {

                // The key lies in between mid1 and mid2
                return ternarySearch(mid1 + 1, mid2 - 1, key, ar);
            }
        }

        // Key not found
        return -1;
    }

    // Driver code
    public static void main(String args[])
    {
        int l, r, p, key;

        // Get the array
        // Sort the array if not sorted
        int ar[] = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 };

        // Starting index
        l = 0;

        // end element index
        r = 9;

        // Checking for 5

        // Key to be searched in the array
        key = 5;

        // Search the key using ternarySearch
        p = ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar);

        // Print the result
        System.out.println("Index of " + key + " is " + p);

        // Checking for 50

        // Key to be searched in the array
        key = 50;

        // Search the key using ternarySearch
        p = ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar);

        // Print the result
        System.out.println("Index of " + key + " is " + p);
    }
}

# Python3 program to illustrate
# recursive approach to ternary search
import math as mt

# Function to perform Ternary Search
def ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar):

    if (r >= l):

        # Find the mid1 and mid2
        mid1 = l + (r - l) //3
        mid2 = r - (r - l) //3

        # Check if key is present at any mid
        if (ar[mid1] == key): 
            return mid1
        
        if (ar[mid2] == key): 
            return mid2
        
        # Since key is not present at mid,
        # check in which region it is present
        # then repeat the Search operation
        # in that region
        if (key < ar[mid1]): 

            # The key lies in between l and mid1
            return ternarySearch(l, mid1 - 1, key, ar)
        
        elif (key > ar[mid2]): 

            # The key lies in between mid2 and r
            return ternarySearch(mid2 + 1, r, key, ar)
        
        else: 

            # The key lies in between mid1 and mid2
            return ternarySearch(mid1 + 1, 
                                 mid2 - 1, key, ar)
        
    # Key not found
    return -1

# Driver code
l, r, p = 0, 9, 5

# Get the array
# Sort the array if not sorted
ar = [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ]

# Starting index
l = 0

# end element index
r = 9

# Checking for 5

# Key to be searched in the array
key = 5

# Search the key using ternarySearch
p = ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar)

# Print the result
print("Index of", key, "is", p)

# Checking for 50

# Key to be searched in the array
key = 50

# Search the key using ternarySearch
p = ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar)

# Print the result
print("Index of", key, "is", p)

# This code is contributed by 
# Mohit kumar 29

// CSharp program to illustrate
// recursive approach to ternary search
using System;

class GFG {

    // Function to perform Ternary Search
    static int ternarySearch(int l, int r, int key, int[] ar)
    {
        if (r >= l) {

            // Find the mid1 and mid2
            int mid1 = l + (r - l) / 3;
            int mid2 = r - (r - l) / 3;

            // Check if key is present at any mid
            if (ar[mid1] == key) {
                return mid1;
            }
            if (ar[mid2] == key) {
                return mid2;
            }

            // Since key is not present at mid,
            // check in which region it is present
            // then repeat the Search operation
            // in that region

            if (key < ar[mid1]) {

                // The key lies in between l and mid1
                return ternarySearch(l, mid1 - 1, key, ar);
            }
            else if (key > ar[mid2]) {

                // The key lies in between mid2 and r
                return ternarySearch(mid2 + 1, r, key, ar);
            }
            else {

                // The key lies in between mid1 and mid2
                return ternarySearch(mid1 + 1, mid2 - 1, key, ar);
            }
        }

        // Key not found
        return -1;
    }

    // Driver code
    public static void Main()
    {
        int l, r, p, key;

        // Get the array
        // Sort the array if not sorted
        int[] ar = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 };

        // Starting index
        l = 0;

        // end element index
        r = 9;

        // Checking for 5

        // Key to be searched in the array
        key = 5;

        // Search the key using ternarySearch
        p = ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar);

        // Print the result
        Console.WriteLine("Index of " + key + " is " + p);

        // Checking for 50

        // Key to be searched in the array
        key = 50;

        // Search the key using ternarySearch
        p = ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar);

        // Print the result
        Console.WriteLine("Index of " + key + " is " + p);
    }
}

// This code is contributed by Ryuga

<script>

    // JavaScript program to illustrate
    // recursive approach to ternary search
    
    // Function to perform Ternary Search
    function ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar)
    {
        if (r >= l) {
 
            // Find the mid1 and mid2
            let mid1 = l + parseInt((r - l) / 3, 10);
            let mid2 = r - parseInt((r - l) / 3, 10);
 
            // Check if key is present at any mid
            if (ar[mid1] == key) {
                return mid1;
            }
            if (ar[mid2] == key) {
                return mid2;
            }
 
            // Since key is not present at mid,
            // check in which region it is present
            // then repeat the Search operation
            // in that region
 
            if (key < ar[mid1]) {
 
                // The key lies in between l and mid1
                return ternarySearch(l, mid1 - 1, key, ar);
            }
            else if (key > ar[mid2]) {
 
                // The key lies in between mid2 and r
                return ternarySearch(mid2 + 1, r, key, ar);
            }
            else {
 
                // The key lies in between mid1 and mid2
                return ternarySearch(mid1 + 1, mid2 - 1, key, ar);
            }
        }
 
        // Key not found
        return -1;
    }
    
    let l, r, p, key;
 
    // Get the array
    // Sort the array if not sorted
    let ar = [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ];

    // Starting index
    l = 0;

    // end element index
    r = 9;

    // Checking for 5

    // Key to be searched in the array
    key = 5;

    // Search the key using ternarySearch
    p = ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar);

    // Print the result
    document.write("Index of " + key + " is " + p + "</br>");

    // Checking for 50

    // Key to be searched in the array
    key = 50;

    // Search the key using ternarySearch
    p = ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar);

    // Print the result
    document.write("Index of " + key + " is " + p);
        
</script>

<?php
// PHP program to illustrate
// recursive approach to ternary search

// Function to perform Ternary Search
function ternarySearch($l, $r, $key, $ar)
{
    if ($r >= $l)
    {

        // Find the mid1 and mid2
        $mid1 = (int)($l + ($r - $l) / 3);
        $mid2 = (int)($r - ($r - $l) / 3);

        // Check if key is present at any mid
        if ($ar[$mid1] == $key) 
        {
            return $mid1;
        }
        if ($ar[$mid2] == $key)
        {
            return $mid2;
        }

        // Since key is not present at mid,
        // check in which region it is present
        // then repeat the Search operation
        // in that region
        if ($key < $ar[$mid1]) 
        {

            // The key lies in between l and mid1
            return ternarySearch($l, $mid1 - 1, 
                                     $key, $ar);
        }
        else if ($key > $ar[$mid2]) 
        {

            // The key lies in between mid2 and r
            return ternarySearch($mid2 + 1, $r,     
                                 $key, $ar);
        }
        else
        {

            // The key lies in between mid1 and mid2
            return ternarySearch($mid1 + 1, $mid2 - 1,
                                            $key, $ar);
        }
    }

    // Key not found
    return -1;
}

// Driver code

// Get the array
// Sort the array if not sorted
$ar = array( 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 
             6, 7, 8, 9, 10 );

// Starting index
$l = 0;

// end element index
$r = 9;

// Checking for 5

// Key to be searched in the array
$key = 5;

// Search the key using ternarySearch
$p = ternarySearch($l, $r, $key, $ar);

// Print the result
echo "Index of ", $key,
     " is ", (int)$p, "\n";

// Checking for 50

// Key to be searched in the array
$key = 50;

// Search the key using ternarySearch
$p = ternarySearch($l, $r, $key, $ar);

// Print the result
echo "Index of ", $key, 
     " is ", (int)$p, "\n";

// This code is contributed by Arnab Kundu
?>

Index of 5 is 4
Index of 50 is -1

Time Complexity: O(2 * log₃n)
Auxiliary Space: O(log₃n)

Iterative Approach of Ternary Search:

// C program to illustrate
// iterative approach to ternary search

#include <stdio.h>

// Function to perform Ternary Search
int ternarySearch(int l, int r, int key, int ar[])

{
    while (r >= l) {

        // Find the mid1 and mid2
        int mid1 = l + (r - l) / 3;
        int mid2 = r - (r - l) / 3;

        // Check if key is present at any mid
        if (ar[mid1] == key) {
            return mid1;
        }
        if (ar[mid2] == key) {
            return mid2;
        }

        // Since key is not present at mid,
        // check in which region it is present
        // then repeat the Search operation
        // in that region

        if (key < ar[mid1]) {

            // The key lies in between l and mid1
            r = mid1 - 1;
        }
        else if (key > ar[mid2]) {

            // The key lies in between mid2 and r
            l = mid2 + 1;
        }
        else {

            // The key lies in between mid1 and mid2
            l = mid1 + 1;
            r = mid2 - 1;
        }
    }

    // Key not found
    return -1;
}

// Driver code
int main()
{
    int l, r, p, key;

    // Get the array
    // Sort the array if not sorted
    int ar[] = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 };

    // Starting index
    l = 0;

    // end element index
    r = 9;

    // Checking for 5

    // Key to be searched in the array
    key = 5;

    // Search the key using ternarySearch
    p = ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar);

    // Print the result
    printf("Index of %d is %d\n", key, p);

    // Checking for 50

    // Key to be searched in the array
    key = 50;

    // Search the key using ternarySearch
    p = ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar);

    // Print the result
    printf("Index of %d is %d", key, p);
}

// Java program to illustrate
// the iterative approach to ternary search

class GFG {

    // Function to perform Ternary Search
    static int ternarySearch(int l, int r, int key, int ar[])

    {
        while (r >= l) {

            // Find the mid1  mid2
            int mid1 = l + (r - l) / 3;
            int mid2 = r - (r - l) / 3;

            // Check if key is present at any mid
            if (ar[mid1] == key) {
                return mid1;
            }
            if (ar[mid2] == key) {
                return mid2;
            }

            // Since key is not present at mid,
            // check in which region it is present
            // then repeat the Search operation
            // in that region

            if (key < ar[mid1]) {

                // The key lies in between l and mid1
                r = mid1 - 1;
            }
            else if (key > ar[mid2]) {

                // The key lies in between mid2 and r
                l = mid2 + 1;
            }
            else {

                // The key lies in between mid1 and mid2
                l = mid1 + 1;
                r = mid2 - 1;
            }
        }

        // Key not found
        return -1;
    }

    // Driver code
    public static void main(String args[])
    {
        int l, r, p, key;

        // Get the array
        // Sort the array if not sorted
        int ar[] = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 };

        // Starting index
        l = 0;

        // end element index
        r = 9;

        // Checking for 5

        // Key to be searched in the array
        key = 5;

        // Search the key using ternarySearch
        p = ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar);

        // Print the result
        System.out.println("Index of " + key + " is " + p);

        // Checking for 50

        // Key to be searched in the array
        key = 50;

        // Search the key using ternarySearch
        p = ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar);

        // Print the result
        System.out.println("Index of " + key + " is " + p);
    }
}

# Python 3 program to illustrate iterative
# approach to ternary search

# Function to perform Ternary Search
def ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar):
    while r >= l:
        
        # Find mid1 and mid2
        mid1 = l + (r-l) // 3
        mid2 = r - (r-l) // 3

        # Check if key is at any mid
        if key == ar[mid1]:
            return mid1
        if key == ar[mid2]:
            return mid2

        # Since key is not present at mid, 
        # Check in which region it is present
        # Then repeat the search operation in that region
        if key < ar[mid1]:
            # key lies between l and mid1
            r = mid1 - 1
        elif key > ar[mid2]:
            # key lies between mid2 and r
            l = mid2 + 1
        else:
            # key lies between mid1 and mid2
            l = mid1 + 1
            r = mid2 - 1

    # key not found
    return -1

# Driver code

# Get the list
# Sort the list if not sorted
ar = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]

# Starting index
l = 0

# end element index
r = 9

# Checking for 5
# Key to be searched in the list
key = 5

# Search the key using ternary search
p = ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar)

# Print the result
print("Index of", key, "is", p)

# Checking for 50
# Key to be searched in the list
key = 50

# Search the key using ternary search
p = ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar)

# Print the result
print("Index of", key, "is", p)

# This code has been contributed by Sujal Motagi

// C# program to illustrate the iterative
// approach to ternary search
using System;

public class GFG {

    // Function to perform Ternary Search
    static int ternarySearch(int l, int r,
                             int key, int[] ar)

    {
        while (r >= l) {

            // Find the mid1 and mid2
            int mid1 = l + (r - l) / 3;
            int mid2 = r - (r - l) / 3;

            // Check if key is present at any mid
            if (ar[mid1] == key) {
                return mid1;
            }
            if (ar[mid2] == key) {
                return mid2;
            }

            // Since key is not present at mid,
            // check in which region it is present
            // then repeat the Search operation
            // in that region

            if (key < ar[mid1]) {

                // The key lies in between l and mid1
                r = mid1 - 1;
            }
            else if (key > ar[mid2]) {

                // The key lies in between mid2 and r
                l = mid2 + 1;
            }
            else {

                // The key lies in between mid1 and mid2
                l = mid1 + 1;
                r = mid2 - 1;
            }
        }

        // Key not found
        return -1;
    }

    // Driver code
    public static void Main(String[] args)
    {
        int l, r, p, key;

        // Get the array
        // Sort the array if not sorted
        int[] ar = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 };

        // Starting index
        l = 0;

        // end element index
        r = 9;

        // Checking for 5

        // Key to be searched in the array
        key = 5;

        // Search the key using ternarySearch
        p = ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar);

        // Print the result
        Console.WriteLine("Index of " + key + " is " + p);

        // Checking for 50

        // Key to be searched in the array
        key = 50;

        // Search the key using ternarySearch
        p = ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar);

        // Print the result
        Console.WriteLine("Index of " + key + " is " + p);
    }
}

// This code has been contributed by 29AjayKumar

<script>

    // JavaScript program to illustrate the iterative
    // approach to ternary search
    
    // Function to perform Ternary Search
    function ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar)
 
    {
        while (r >= l) {
 
            // Find the mid1 and mid2
            let mid1 = l + parseInt((r - l) / 3, 10);
            let mid2 = r - parseInt((r - l) / 3, 10);
 
            // Check if key is present at any mid
            if (ar[mid1] == key) {
                return mid1;
            }
            if (ar[mid2] == key) {
                return mid2;
            }
 
            // Since key is not present at mid,
            // check in which region it is present
            // then repeat the Search operation
            // in that region
 
            if (key < ar[mid1]) {
 
                // The key lies in between l and mid1
                r = mid1 - 1;
            }
            else if (key > ar[mid2]) {
 
                // The key lies in between mid2 and r
                l = mid2 + 1;
            }
            else {
 
                // The key lies in between mid1 and mid2
                l = mid1 + 1;
                r = mid2 - 1;
            }
        }
 
        // Key not found
        return -1;
    }
    
    let l, r, p, key;
 
    // Get the array
    // Sort the array if not sorted
    let ar = [ 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 ];

    // Starting index
    l = 0;

    // end element index
    r = 9;

    // Checking for 5

    // Key to be searched in the array
    key = 5;

    // Search the key using ternarySearch
    p = ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar);

    // Print the result
    document.write("Index of " + key + " is " + p + "</br>");

    // Checking for 50

    // Key to be searched in the array
    key = 50;

    // Search the key using ternarySearch
    p = ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar);

    // Print the result
    document.write("Index of " + key + " is " + p);
    
</script>

<?php

// Function to perform Ternary Search
function ternarySearch(int $l, int $r, int $key, array $ar): int
{
    while ($r >= $l) {

        // Find the mid1  mid2
        $mid1 = $l + (int) (($r - $l) / 3);
        $mid2 = $r - (int) (($r - $l) / 3);

        // Check if key is present at any mid
        if ($ar[$mid1] == $key) {
            return $mid1;
        }
        if ($ar[$mid2] == $key) {
            return $mid2;
        }

        // Since key is not present at mid,
        // check in which region it is present
        // then repeat the Search operation
        // in that region

        if ($key < $ar[$mid1]) {

            // The key lies in between l and mid1
            $r = $mid1 - 1;
        } elseif ($key > $ar[$mid2]) {

            // The key lies in between mid2 and r
            $l = $mid2 + 1;
        } else {

            // The key lies in between mid1 and mid2
            $l = $mid1 + 1;
            $r = $mid2 - 1;
        }
    }

    // Key not found
    return -1;
}

// Get the array
// Sort the array if not sorted
$ar = [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10];

// Starting index
$l = 0;

// end element index
$r = 9;

// Checking for 5

// Key to be searched in the array
$key = 5;

// Search the key using ternarySearch
$p = ternarySearch($l, $r, $key, $ar);

// Print the result
echo "Index of $key is $p\n";

// Checking for 50

// Key to be searched in the array
$key = 50;

// Search the key using ternarySearch
$p = ternarySearch($l, $r, $key, $ar);

// Print the result
echo "Index of $key is $p\n";
//This code is contributed by faizan sayeed
?>

// C++ program to illustrate
// iterative approach to ternary search

#include <iostream>
using namespace std;

// Function to perform Ternary Search
int ternarySearch(int l, int r, int key, int ar[])

{
    while (r >= l) {

        // Find the mid1 and mid2
        int mid1 = l + (r - l) / 3;
        int mid2 = r - (r - l) / 3;

        // Check if key is present at any mid
        if (ar[mid1] == key) {
            return mid1;
        }
        if (ar[mid2] == key) {
            return mid2;
        }

        // Since key is not present at mid,
        // check in which region it is present
        // then repeat the Search operation
        // in that region

        if (key < ar[mid1]) {

            // The key lies in between l and mid1
            r = mid1 - 1;
        }
        else if (key > ar[mid2]) {

            // The key lies in between mid2 and r
            l = mid2 + 1;
        }
        else {

            // The key lies in between mid1 and mid2
            l = mid1 + 1;
            r = mid2 - 1;
        }
    }

    // Key not found
    return -1;
}

// Driver code
int main()
{
    int l, r, p, key;

    // Get the array
    // Sort the array if not sorted
    int ar[] = { 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 };

    // Starting index
    l = 0;

    // end element index
    r = 9;

    // Checking for 5

    // Key to be searched in the array
    key = 5;

    // Search the key using ternarySearch
    p = ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar);

    // Print the result
    cout << "Index of "<<key<<" is " << p << endl;

    // Checking for 50

    // Key to be searched in the array
    key = 50;

    // Search the key using ternarySearch
    p = ternarySearch(l, r, key, ar);

    // Print the result
    cout << "Index of "<<key<<" is " << p;
}

Index of 5 is 4
Index of 50 is -1

Time Complexity: O(2 * log₃n), where n is the size of the array.
Auxiliary Space: O(1)

Complexity Analysis of Ternary Search:

Time Complexity:

• Worst case: O(log₃N)
• Average case: Θ(log₃N)
• Best case: Ω(1)

Auxiliary Space: O(1)

Binary search Vs Ternary Search:

The time complexity of the binary search is less than the ternary search as the number of comparisons in ternary search is much more than binary search. Binary Search is used to find the maxima/minima of monotonic functions where as Ternary Search is used to find the maxima/minima of unimodal functions.

Note: We can also use ternary search for monotonic functions but the time complexity will be slightly higher as compared to binary search.

Advantages:

• Ternary search can find maxima/minima for unimodal functions, where binary search is not applicable.
• Ternary Search has a time complexity of O(2 * log₃n), which is more efficient than linear search and comparable to binary search.
• Fits well with optimization problems.

Disadvantages:

• Ternary Search is only applicable to ordered lists or arrays, and cannot be used on unordered or non-linear data sets.
• Ternary Search takes more time to find maxima/minima of monotonic functions as compared to Binary Search.

Summary:

• Ternary Search is a divide-and-conquer algorithm that is used to find the position of a specific value in a given array or list.
• It works by dividing the array into three parts and recursively performing the search operation on the appropriate part until the desired element is found. 
• The algorithm has a time complexity of O(2 * log₃n) and is more efficient than a linear search, but less commonly used than other search algorithms like binary search. 
• It's important to note that the array to be searched must be sorted for Ternary Search to work correctly.