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

A hash table is a data structure that efficiently stores unordered items by utilizing hash functions to map each item to a specific location, or index, in an array. This mapping allows for quick access to the stored items, typically providing average time complexity of O(1) for insertion, deletion, and search operations. The hash function translates a key into an array index, allowing the item associated with that key to be retrieved directly.

Hash tables handle collisions—instances where multiple keys map to the same index—using strategies such as chaining (storing multiple items at the same index in a linked list) or open addressing (finding another open slot within the array). This structure is particularly advantageous for scenarios where quick lookups are required, and the order in which items are stored does not matter.

In contrast, the other options represent different types of data structures that serve distinct purposes. Max heaps are binary trees that maintain a specific order to support priority queue operations, graphs represent relationships among interconnected items, and binary trees organize items in a hierarchical fashion with a clear parent-child relationship. None of these options utilize the mapping technique provided by hash functions, which uniquely characterizes hash tables.