What is a binary search algorithm primarily used for?

The binary search algorithm is specifically designed to efficiently locate the position of a target value within a sorted array. It operates by repeatedly dividing the search interval in half, allowing it to determine whether the target value is in the left or right half of the array. This method significantly reduces the number of comparisons needed compared to linear search algorithms, making it highly efficient for searching in large datasets.

To use binary search, the array must first be sorted, which is crucial because the algorithm relies on the order of the elements to eliminate half of the remaining elements in each step of the search process. Thus, while sorting is a preliminary step to prepare the dataset for binary search, the algorithm itself functions solely to find the specified target value's position efficiently in that already sorted array.