Binary Tree
A binary tree is a hierarchical data structure in computer science where each node has at most two children, referred to as the left child and right child. It is widely used for efficient data organization, searching, and sorting operations, such as in binary search trees and expression trees. Binary trees form the foundation for more complex tree structures like AVL trees and red-black trees.
Developers should learn binary trees when implementing algorithms that require fast data retrieval, such as in database indexing, file systems, or compilers for parsing expressions. They are essential for understanding advanced data structures and algorithms, particularly in scenarios involving hierarchical data or when optimizing for logarithmic time complexity in operations like insertion, deletion, and search.