What are B-Trees in Database Indexing?

Can you explain what B-Trees are in the context of database indexing?

B-Trees are a type of self-balancing tree data structure that maintains sorted data and allows for efficient insertion, deletion, and search operations. They are commonly used in databases to index large amounts of data.

How do B-Trees differ from other tree structures like binary trees?

Unlike binary trees, where each node has at most two children, B-Trees can have multiple children. This allows B-Trees to maintain balance and efficiency, especially for disk-based storage.

What are the advantages of using B-Trees for indexing?

B-Trees provide several advantages, including reduced disk I/O operations, efficient range queries, and the ability to handle large datasets effectively.

Can you give an example of how a B-Tree is structured?

Sure! A B-Tree of order 3 can have a maximum of 2 keys and 3 children per node. For example, a root node might contain keys [10, 20] with child nodes for ranges less than 10, between 10 and 20, and greater than 20.