Western Governors University (WGU) ICSC2100 C949 Data Structures and Algorithms I Practice Exam

The primary benefit of using a hash table for data storage is the fast access time, which is typically average-case O(1). This means that, on average, you can access the value associated with a given key in constant time, regardless of the number of items stored in the hash table. This efficiency is achieved through the use of a hash function, which computes an index into an array of buckets or slots, allowing for quick retrieval or insertion of values.

This performance characteristic makes hash tables particularly useful for applications where quick lookups, insertions, and deletions are critical, such as in implementing associative arrays, sets, and dictionary-like data structures. In contrast, other data structures, such as linked lists or arrays, generally have slower average access times since they may require linear time to find an element.

Additionally, hash tables handle collisions (when multiple keys hash to the same index) through various methods, which can still maintain efficient access times under many conditions. Thus, the design and implementation of hash tables are heavily focused on optimizing this access efficiency.