Understanding the Structure and Function of Binary Search Trees (BST)
Learn what defines a Binary Search Tree (BST) and its essential properties for efficient data operations.
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A Binary Search Tree (BST) is defined by its hierarchical structure in which each node has at most two children. Importantly, the left child contains values less than its parent node, while the right child contains values greater than or equal to its parent node. This property allows for efficient search, insertion, and deletion operations by ensuring a predictable order of elements.
FAQs & Answers
- What is a Binary Search Tree? A Binary Search Tree (BST) is a data structure where each node has at most two children, allowing for efficient search and modification operations.
- How does a BST optimize data retrieval? A BST optimizes data retrieval by maintaining a predictable order of elements, where the left child contains less and the right child contains greater or equal values than the parent.
- What are the main operations of a BST? The main operations of a BST include search, insertion, and deletion, all of which are performed efficiently due to the tree's hierarchical structure.
- What is the difference between a BST and other trees? Unlike other types of trees, a BST maintains a specific ordering of values which allows for faster search times, typically O(log n) in balanced cases.