Advanced DSA — Coding Interview Prep

Heaps

Why does your computer always know exactly which task is the absolute most urgent, without sorting the entire list first? Sorting everything is way too slow when things change every millisecond. Instead, computers use a clever shortcut called a heap.

A heap is a binary tree, but with two strict rules. First, it must be complete, meaning we fill every level from left to right with no gaps. This perfect shape keeps the tree incredibly compact.

The second rule is the heap property. In a min-heap, every parent node must be smaller than or equal to its children. This guarantees that the absolute smallest value is always sitting right at the very top.