In a hash table, what is the effect of a poor hash function?
Practice Questions
Q1
In a hash table, what is the effect of a poor hash function?
Increased memory usage
Faster access times
Higher collision rates
Simpler implementation
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
In a hash table, what is the effect of a poor hash function?
Step 1: Understand what a hash table is. A hash table is a data structure that stores data in a way that allows for fast access.
Step 2: Learn about hash functions. A hash function takes an input (like a key) and produces a number (hash code) that determines where to store the data in the hash table.
Step 3: Recognize what a good hash function does. A good hash function distributes keys evenly across the hash table, minimizing the chances of two keys being assigned to the same location.
Step 4: Identify what a poor hash function does. A poor hash function does not distribute keys evenly, leading to many keys being assigned to the same location.
Step 5: Understand collisions. When two keys are assigned to the same location, it's called a collision. This can slow down the performance of the hash table.
Step 6: Conclude that a poor hash function increases the number of collisions, which makes accessing data slower and less efficient.
