This document discusses binary search, an algorithm that searches a sorted list by dividing the list in half at each step. It works by comparing the search key to the middle element of the list and eliminating half of the elements from further consideration based on whether the key is smaller or larger than the middle element. The algorithm has a runtime complexity of O(log n), making it very efficient for large lists. An example implementation is provided that starts by comparing the search key to the middle element, and recursively searches either the left or right half of the list depending on the comparison.