What is the average time complexity for searching an element in a hash table?

Practice Questions

Q1
What is the average time complexity for searching an element in a hash table?
  1. O(n)
  2. O(log n)
  3. O(1)
  4. O(n^2)

Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions

What is the average time complexity for searching an element in a hash table?
  • 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 the hash function. A hash function takes an input (like a key) and converts it into a specific index in the hash table.
  • Step 3: Know that when you want to find an element, the hash function helps you go directly to the index where that element is stored.
  • Step 4: Realize that this direct access means you don't have to look through all the elements, which makes searching very fast.
  • Step 5: Conclude that, on average, searching for an element in a hash table takes constant time, which is represented as O(1).
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