A binary search requires a ordered list. The search first finds the data entry in the middle of the list, and checks whether it is larger or smaller than the data it is looking for. It then removed half the list creating a sublist. The process will repeat until the data it checks is equal to the data it is searching for.
Eg: "1 2 4 5 6 7 10" and we are searching for 6
First look at middle number "5" which is smaller than 6 so we remove that half of the list leaving "6 7 10" then we look at 7 which is larger than 5, so we remove that half of the list leaving "6" we then check 6 and have found the number we were looking for.