Min-Heap vs Max-Heap

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

Difference between Min-Heap and Max-Heap in Java

Feature Min-Heap Max-Heap
Heap Property In a min-heap, the value of each node is less than or equal to the values of its child nodes. In a max-heap, the value of each node is greater than or equal to the values of its child nodes.
Root Element The root element (topmost element) is the minimum element in the heap. The root element (topmost element) is the maximum element in the heap.
Accessing Elements The minimum element can be accessed in constant time (O(1)) at the root of the min-heap. The maximum element can be accessed in constant time (O(1)) at the root of the max-heap.
Sorting Order A min-heap sorts elements in non-descending order, with the smallest element at the root. A max-heap sorts elements in non-ascending order, with the largest element at the root.
Extracting Elements Removing the root element from the min-heap gives the minimum element and re-organizes the heap. Removing the root element from the max-heap gives the maximum element and re-organizes the heap.
Insertion Operation Inserting a new element in a min-heap ensures that the new element is placed in its correct position to maintain the heap property. Inserting a new element in a max-heap ensures that the new element is placed in its correct position to maintain the heap property.
Applications Min-heaps are often used in priority queues, where the smallest element has the highest priority. Max-heaps can be used to efficiently find the maximum element in a collection or solve certain problems, such as finding the kth largest element in an array.
In summary, the main difference between a min-heap and a max-heap lies in the heap property and the sorting order of the elements. A min-heap organizes elements so that the minimum element is at the root, while a max-heap organizes elements so that the maximum element is at the root. These differences determine the behavior and applications of the two types of heaps.


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