What are the advantages of B-trees over other data structures?

What are the advantages of B-trees over other data structures?

B-trees are optimized for systems that read and write large blocks of data. They maintain sorted data and allow searches, sequential access, insertions, and deletions in logarithmic time.

How do B-trees compare to binary search trees?

B-trees are more balanced than binary search trees, which can become unbalanced with sequential inserts. B-trees also have a higher branching factor, reducing the height of the tree and improving access times.

Are there specific use cases where B-trees are preferred?

Yes, B-trees are commonly used in databases and file systems where efficient disk access is crucial, as they minimize the number of disk reads.

What are the disadvantages of using B-trees?

B-trees can be more complex to implement than simpler structures like linked lists or binary trees, and they may require more memory due to their node structure.

Can you explain how B-trees handle insertions?

When inserting into a B-tree, if a node exceeds its maximum number of keys, it splits into two nodes, promoting the middle key to the parent node, ensuring the tree remains balanced.