Aka: randomized search tree
A probabilistic data structure that combines a heap and a binary search tree. The priority of each node is randomly given and will lead to a randomly distributed binary search tree. Remember that the worst case scenario for a unbalanced binary search tree is inserting items in order; this randomization should minimize that scenario.
In order to maintain max-heap order, heap rotation will be performed during insertion and deletion.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Simpler than balanced binary search trees | Worst case is linear |
| Heap functionality | Randomized |
| Operations | Worst | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Delete | O(n) | O(log n) |
| Insert | O(n) | O(log n) |
| Search | O(n) | O(log n) |
| Space | O(n) | O(n) |