What are the performance differences between arrays and hash tables?

What are the performance differences between arrays and hash tables?

Arrays provide O(1) access time for elements, while hash tables offer average O(1) for lookups but can degrade to O(n) in worst cases.

When should I use a hash table instead of an array?

Use a hash table when you need fast lookups, insertions, and deletions, especially with non-integer keys.

Are there any downsides to using hash tables?

Yes, hash tables can consume more memory and may have performance issues due to collisions, requiring good hash functions.

Can you give an example of when an array would be more efficient?

Arrays are more efficient for scenarios where you need to access elements by index frequently, like in sorting algorithms.