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.
| 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. |
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