Which algorithm is specifically used to search unstructured or structured data?

The algorithm that is specifically used to search both unstructured and structured data is linear search. This technique is straightforward, as it sequentially checks each element in the data set until the desired value is found or the end of the set is reached.

Linear search applies effectively to unstructured data, where items might not be organized in a particular order, as well as structured data, such as lists or arrays, where items can be contiguously accessed. It is particularly useful when the dataset is small or when no prior knowledge of the dataset's layout or organization is available, which is common in unstructured scenarios.

While other algorithms exist for searching structured datasets—like binary search, which relies on the data being sorted—linear search's versatility allows it to operate regardless of the data's organization, making it applicable in a broader range of use cases where structured and unstructured data are involved.