Binary Tree

What Does Binary Tree Mean?

A binary tree is a tree data structure where each node has up to two child nodes, creating the branches of the tree. The two children are usually called the left and right nodes. Parent nodes are nodes with children, while child nodes may include references to their parents.

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Techopedia Explains Binary Tree

A binary tree is made up of at most two nodes, often called the left and right nodes, and a data element. The topmost node of the tree is called the root node, and the left and right pointers direct to smaller subtrees on either side.

Binary trees are used to implement binary search trees and binary heaps. They are also often used for sorting data as in a heap sort.

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Margaret Rouse

Margaret Rouse is an award-winning technical writer and teacher known for her ability to explain complex technical subjects to a non-technical, business audience. Over the past twenty years her explanations have appeared on TechTarget websites and she's been cited as an authority in articles by the New York Times, Time Magazine, USA Today, ZDNet, PC Magazine and Discovery Magazine.Margaret's idea of a fun day is helping IT and business professionals learn to speak each other’s highly specialized languages. If you have a suggestion for a new definition or how to improve a technical explanation, please email Margaret or contact her…