Heap, in computing, is an abstract data structure which is typically organized as a tree. It is important for providing resources to applications in structures that enable fast retrieval of data. It is used in many algorithms, including heapsort, priority queue, and binomial heap.
Heaps are a type of tree data structure. The main benefit of using heaps is because the top element – or root – of the tree is the item with the highest priority which can be retrieved easily. This is known as the “heap property”. The tree is organized so that all elements underneath the root will have a lower priority and the elements underneath them have lower priorities than them.
The two primary operations that can be done on a heap are insert and extract-max. Insert adds a new element to the heap and extract-max retrieves the root element with the highest priority. Because heaps are organized based on priority, it is useful for algorithms and data structures like heapsort, which uses the heap property to sort a set of numbers quickly.
Heaps are also used in other data structures, such as in a priority queue. A priority queue allows for fast retrieval of the item with the highest priority, and the heap structure makes it easier to implement efficiently. Other applications of heaps include binomial heaps, which can be used in graph algorithms and 2-3 heaps, which are used in external memory sorting algorithms.
In summary, heap is a useful tool for many applications and algorithms which involve the fast retrieval of data. It is an abstract data structure that is organized as a tree, allowing for elements with varying priorities to be stored in a way which is accessible and efficient.
