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

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

A priority queue is an abstract data type that operates similar to a regular queue but with an added feature: each element has a priority. In Java, a heap is a specific implementation of a priority queue, typically using a binary heap structure.

Can you explain how a binary heap works?

Sure! A binary heap is a complete binary tree where each node follows the heap property: in a max heap, the parent node is greater than or equal to its children, while in a min heap, the parent is less than or equal to its children.

How do I implement a priority queue using a heap in Java?

You can use the PriorityQueue class in Java, which is backed by a heap. You can create it like this: PriorityQueue<Type> pq = new PriorityQueue<>(); and then add elements using pq.add(element);.

What are the time complexities for adding and removing elements?

In a binary heap, both adding and removing elements (specifically the root) have a time complexity of O(log n), where n is the number of elements in the heap.