What is the time complexity of binary search tree traversal?

What is the time complexity of binary search tree traversal?

The time complexity of traversing a binary search tree (BST) depends on the type of traversal. In-order, pre-order, and post-order traversals all have a time complexity of O(n), where n is the number of nodes.

Are there different complexities for different types of trees?

Yes, the time complexity can vary based on the tree's structure. For balanced trees, the complexity remains O(n), but for unbalanced trees, it can degrade to O(n) for operations like search, insert, or delete.

What about the space complexity during traversal?

The space complexity for tree traversal is O(h), where h is the height of the tree. This is due to the stack space used in recursive calls.

Can you explain how the height of the tree affects performance?

Certainly! In a balanced BST, the height is log(n), leading to efficient operations. In an unbalanced tree, the height can be n, resulting in poorer performance.