What is the difference between a heap and a priority queue?

What is the difference between a heap and a priority queue?

A heap is a specific tree-based data structure that satisfies the heap property, while a priority queue is an abstract data type that uses a heap to manage its elements based on priority.

Can you explain the heap property?

Sure! The heap property states that in a max heap, for any given node, the value of that node is greater than or equal to the values of its children. In a min heap, the value is less than or equal to its children.

How do you implement a priority queue using a heap in C++?

You can implement a priority queue using a heap by using a vector to store elements and maintaining the heap property during insertions and deletions. The C++ Standard Library provides a priority_queue class that does this for you.

What are the time complexities for inserting and removing elements?

In a binary heap, both insertion and removal of the highest (or lowest) priority element have a time complexity of O(log n).