Binary Search Tree
A Binary Search Tree (BST) is a hierarchical data structure where each node has at most two children, with the left subtree containing nodes with values less than the parent node and the right subtree containing nodes with values greater than the parent node. It enables efficient searching, insertion, and deletion operations, typically with an average time complexity of O(log n) for balanced trees. BSTs are fundamental in computer science for organizing sorted data and are widely used in applications like databases, file systems, and search algorithms.
Developers should learn Binary Search Trees when building applications that require fast retrieval, sorting, or dynamic data management, such as implementing autocomplete features, managing in-memory databases, or optimizing search operations in algorithms. They are essential for understanding more advanced data structures like AVL trees or red-black trees, and are commonly tested in technical interviews to assess problem-solving skills in data structure design and traversal.