QuickSort is a widely used sorting algorithm that follows the divide and conquer approach. It is an efficient algorithm for sorting arrays or lists. The algorithm works by dividing the array into two smaller sub-arrays based on a chosen pivot element, and then recursively sorting the sub-arrays.

Divide and Conquer Technique
The divide and conquer technique is a problem-solving approach that involves breaking down a problem into smaller sub-problems, solving them independently, and then combining the solutions to solve the original problem. The quicksort algorithm follows this technique by recursively dividing the array into smaller sub-arrays, sorting them, and combining the sorted sub-arrays to obtain the final sorted array.

Steps of QuickSort Algorithm
1. Choose a pivot element from the array. This pivot element is used to partition the array into two sub-arrays.
2. Rearrange the array so that all elements smaller than the pivot are placed to the left of the pivot, and all elements greater than the pivot are placed to the right of the pivot.
3. Recursively apply the above two steps to the sub-arrays on the left and right of the pivot until the entire array is sorted.

Explanation
The quicksort algorithm uses the divide and conquer technique as follows:

1. Divide: The algorithm selects a pivot element from the array and partitions the array into two sub-arrays. This division is done such that all elements smaller than the pivot are placed to the left of the pivot, and all elements greater than the pivot are placed to the right of the pivot.

2. Conquer: The algorithm recursively applies the above steps to the sub-arrays on the left and right of the pivot. This step is where the divide and conquer technique is employed. By solving the smaller sub-arrays independently, the algorithm can efficiently sort the entire array.

3. Combine: There is no explicit combining step in the quicksort algorithm. The sorted sub-arrays are automatically combined during the recursive calls, resulting in a fully sorted array.

Advantages of Divide and Conquer
The divide and conquer technique offers several advantages in algorithm design:

- It simplifies complex problems by breaking them down into smaller, more manageable sub-problems.
- It allows for parallel processing and efficient use of resources.
- It often leads to efficient algorithms with lower time complexity compared to other techniques.

Therefore, the quicksort algorithm utilizes the divide and conquer technique to efficiently sort an array by recursively dividing it into smaller sub-arrays, sorting them, and combining the sorted sub-arrays.