describe your understanding of hash tables in your own words. Give examples whenever possible.

Database System Concepts
7th Edition
ISBN:9780078022159
Author:Abraham Silberschatz Professor, Henry F. Korth, S. Sudarshan
Publisher:Abraham Silberschatz Professor, Henry F. Korth, S. Sudarshan
Chapter1: Introduction
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In your own words Please!

**Describe Your Understanding of Hash Tables in Your Own Words. Give Examples Whenever Possible.**

Hash tables are a data structure that provides an efficient way of storing and retrieving data. They operate by using a hash function to transform keys into a unique index inside an array. This allows for quick data retrieval, as the index directly points to the data location.

A simple example of a hash table is a dictionary where each word (key) is hashed to a unique index in an array, and at that index, the definition of the word (value) is stored. When you want to find the definition of a word, you hash the word to get the index and directly access the value at that index in the array.

Here's a basic outline of how a hash table works:
1. **Hash Function:** Converts the key into an array index.
2. **Array/Bucket:** Stores the values at the respective indices.

For instance, if you have a hash table storing student IDs (keys) and their corresponding grades (values), the student ID can be fed into the hash function to get an index where the grade is stored.

Important points to consider include handling collisions (when two keys hash to the same index) which can be managed by methods like chaining or open addressing. 

Overall, hash tables are widely used due to their average-case constant time complexity for insertions, deletions, and lookups.
Transcribed Image Text:**Describe Your Understanding of Hash Tables in Your Own Words. Give Examples Whenever Possible.** Hash tables are a data structure that provides an efficient way of storing and retrieving data. They operate by using a hash function to transform keys into a unique index inside an array. This allows for quick data retrieval, as the index directly points to the data location. A simple example of a hash table is a dictionary where each word (key) is hashed to a unique index in an array, and at that index, the definition of the word (value) is stored. When you want to find the definition of a word, you hash the word to get the index and directly access the value at that index in the array. Here's a basic outline of how a hash table works: 1. **Hash Function:** Converts the key into an array index. 2. **Array/Bucket:** Stores the values at the respective indices. For instance, if you have a hash table storing student IDs (keys) and their corresponding grades (values), the student ID can be fed into the hash function to get an index where the grade is stored. Important points to consider include handling collisions (when two keys hash to the same index) which can be managed by methods like chaining or open addressing. Overall, hash tables are widely used due to their average-case constant time complexity for insertions, deletions, and lookups.
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