What is the time complexity of a priority queue?

What is the time complexity of a priority queue?

The time complexity of a priority queue depends on the underlying data structure. For a binary heap, insertion and deletion operations have a time complexity of O(log n), while accessing the minimum element is O(1).

How does the choice of data structure affect performance?

Using a binary heap is efficient for most cases, but if you use an unsorted array, insertion is O(1) but deletion becomes O(n). Conversely, a sorted array allows O(log n) for insertion but O(1) for deletion.

Can you explain the difference between a min-heap and a max-heap?

Sure! A min-heap ensures that the parent node is always less than or equal to its child nodes, making it easy to access the smallest element. A max-heap does the opposite, ensuring the parent is greater than or equal to its children, which allows quick access to the largest element.

What are some real-world applications of priority queues?

Priority queues are used in various applications like scheduling tasks in operating systems, managing bandwidth in networks, and implementing Dijkstra's algorithm for shortest path finding.