What is the difference between binary trees and binary search trees?

Can you explain the difference between binary trees and binary search trees?

Sure! A binary tree is a tree data structure where each node has at most two children. A binary search tree (BST) is a special type of binary tree where the left child is less than the parent node, and the right child is greater.

What are the advantages of using a binary search tree?

Binary search trees allow for efficient searching, insertion, and deletion operations, typically in O(log n) time, assuming the tree is balanced.

Are there any disadvantages to binary search trees?

Yes, if a binary search tree becomes unbalanced, its performance can degrade to O(n) for operations, similar to a linked list.

How can I balance a binary search tree?

You can use techniques like AVL trees or Red-Black trees, which automatically maintain balance during insertions and deletions.