C++: Skip Lists vs Balanced Trees

What are the main differences between skip lists and balanced trees in C++?

Skip lists are probabilistic data structures that allow for fast search, insertion, and deletion, while balanced trees, like AVL or Red-Black trees, maintain a strict balance to ensure O(log n) time complexity for these operations.

Which one is more efficient for search operations?

Skip lists can be more efficient in practice due to their simplicity and lower constant factors, but balanced trees provide guaranteed O(log n) performance.

Are there any scenarios where one is preferred over the other?

Yes, skip lists are often preferred in concurrent environments due to easier implementation of lock-free algorithms, while balanced trees are better for applications requiring strict performance guarantees.

Can you provide a simple implementation example for both?

Sure! For skip lists, you can use a linked list structure with multiple levels, while for balanced trees, you can implement an AVL tree with rotations to maintain balance.