Start hereTraverse a hierarchy
Binary Tree
- Choose it when
- Learning tree vocabulary and traversal
- Watch for
- Structure alone does not guarantee fast search.
Tree structures
See how hierarchy, ordering rules, balance, prefixes, and range summaries change the shape of a tree.
Which invariant should the tree protect?
Choose by the decision you want to understand
Each lesson names the situation it fits and the behavior worth watching.
BeginnerPreserve sorted branches
Binary Search Tree
- Choose it when
- Ordered insertion, search, and deletion
- Watch for
- Every comparison discards one side when the invariant holds.
IntermediateRotate for strict balance
AVL Tree
- Choose it when
- Predictable search depth
- Watch for
- A local rotation repairs height without breaking sorted order.
AdvancedRecolor and rotate
Red-Black Tree
- Choose it when
- Understanding practical balanced maps
- Watch for
- Color rules permit flexible balance with fewer rotations.
IntermediateBranch by character
Trie
- Choose it when
- Prefix search and autocomplete
- Watch for
- Shared prefixes reuse the same path instead of comparing whole words.
AdvancedCache range summaries
Segment Tree
- Choose it when
- Repeated range queries with updates
- Watch for
- Each node summarizes an interval that can be reused.