B-trees vs B+ trees

In this post, we will learn the difference between B-trees and B+ trees in Java. This is a frequently asked question in Java interviews for beginners. Let's dive into it.

Difference between B-trees and B+ trees in Java

Feature B-tree B+ tree
Node Structure B-tree nodes can store both keys and data B+ tree nodes store only keys
Leaf Node Structure B-tree leaf nodes also store data B+ tree leaf nodes store data and act as a linked list for efficient range queries
Data Storage B-tree stores both keys and data in internal nodes and leaf nodes B+ tree stores keys only in internal nodes and data in the leaf nodes
Fanout B-tree typically has a smaller fanout (number of child nodes) B+ tree typically has a larger fanout, as data is only stored in leaf nodes
Number of Keys in Node B-tree node can have multiple keys B+ tree node can have multiple keys, but all keys are stored in the leaf nodes
Search Path B-tree requires more steps to reach the leaf node for data retrieval B+ tree requires fewer steps to reach the leaf node, as keys are only present in leaf nodes
Range Queries B-tree is less efficient for range queries as it involves traversing internal nodes B+ tree is highly efficient for range queries as the data is stored in the leaf nodes which form a linked list
Use Case B-trees are suitable for databases or file systems where both keys and data need to be stored in internal nodes B+ trees are commonly used in database indexing and file systems for efficient range queries and reduced memory overhead
Internal Node Structure B-tree internal nodes contain keys and pointers to child nodes B+ tree internal nodes contain only keys and pointers to child nodes
Memory Utilization B-tree may have higher memory overhead due to storing both keys and data in internal nodes B+ tree has lower memory overhead as it only stores keys in internal nodes
Node Splitting B-tree may require redistribution of data between sibling nodes during a node split B+ tree only requires redistribution of keys between sibling nodes during a node split
Overall, B+ trees are optimized for range queries and have better memory utilization compared to B-trees. On the other hand, B-trees are more suitable when data and keys need to be stored in internal nodes, such as in traditional databases or file systems.


Comments