We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Technology

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is a Binary Tree?

By Gregory Hanson
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 7,870
References
Share

A binary tree is a type of data structure used in computer programming to store, sort, and access information. Binary trees are the simplest variety of tree, but are very useful and easy to implement. A typical implementation of a binary tree relies on a root node linked to a series of nodes that make up the tree itself by pointer variables. This type of tree derives its name from the fact that no node within the tree can have more than two children.

Tree data structures come in many varieties. They are made up of different nodes, which are organized in a hierarchical pattern. A single node, the root, is the access point through which the entire data tree can be searched or otherwise manipulated. This root node points to the top node within the tree itself.

Any node within a tree, save for the topmost node, will have a parent node which is located above it in the hierarchy of the tree. It can also have child nodes, which are located below it. A given node is accessed through those above it in the tree and provides access to those below it.

Binary tree data structures allow each node to have no more than two children. A given node can thus have zero, one, or two children nodes attached to it. Ordinary binary trees allow nodes with any number of children at any point in the tree. They also place no restrictions on how the values stored in nodes that comprise a tree are arranged.

Data structures are most useful when they improve the speed with which data can be accessed by a computer, and modified versions of binary trees are used to improve their efficiency. A binary search tree is one in which all data values located on the left descending branch from a given node have values that are equal to or less than the value stored in that node. Values on the right side of a node in an ordered binary tree must, in turn, be greater than the value in the base node. This data ordering allows for a much more efficient search algorithm to be written.

The shape of a binary tree is also important in determining the efficiency of a search algorithm. The least efficient variety of a binary tree is one in which each node has only a single child. A computer may need to examine every item of data in the entire tree to locate a single piece of information in this configuration. The most efficient binary tree, in contrast, is one in which every node save for those at the bottom of the tree has two children and where all of the leaf nodes, the bottom nodes in the tree, are the same distance from the root.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Link to Sources

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-a-binary-tree.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.