Which of the following is an example of a common sorting algorithm?

The answer provided is often thought to be Quick sort, which is indeed a well-known and commonly used sorting algorithm. Quick sort is designed to efficiently sort large lists and is valued for its average-case performance, which is O(n log n), making it a preferred choice in many applications. Its divide-and-conquer strategy partitions the data into smaller sub-arrays, sorts those independently, and then combines the results, contributing to its efficiency.

While Quick sort is a valid choice, it's important to recognize that Bubble sort, Selection sort, and other sorting algorithms like Merge sort and Heap sort are also frequently studied and implemented. Bubble sort and Selection sort may not be as efficient for large datasets, but they are still commonly discussed in the context of teaching sorting concepts due to their straightforward implementation.

In a broader context, sorting algorithms like Bubble sort, Selection sort, and Quick sort are fundamental topics in computer science, illustrating various approaches to organizing data. Understanding these algorithms helps in grasping more complex data structures and algorithms in programming.