Difference Between B+ Tree and B Tree
Some differences between B+ Tree and B Tree are stated below.
Parameters |
B+ Tree |
B Tree |
---|---|---|
Structure |
Separate leaf nodes for data storage and internal nodes for indexing |
Nodes store both keys and data values |
Leaf Nodes |
Leaf nodes form a linked list for efficient range-based queries |
Leaf nodes do not form a linked list |
Order |
Higher order (more keys) |
Lower order (fewer keys) |
Key Duplication |
Typically allows key duplication in leaf nodes |
Usually does not allow key duplication |
Disk Access |
Better disk access due to sequential reads in a linked list structure |
More disk I/O due to non-sequential reads in internal nodes |
Applications |
Database systems, file systems, where range queries are common |
In-memory data structures, databases, general-purpose use |
Performance |
Better performance for range queries and bulk data retrieval |
Balanced performance for search, insert, and delete operations |
Memory Usage |
Requires more memory for internal nodes |
Requires less memory as keys and values are stored in the same node |
Introduction of B+ Tree
B + Tree is a variation of the B-tree data structure. In a B + tree, data pointers are stored only at the leaf nodes of the tree. In a B+ tree structure of a leaf node differs from the structure of internal nodes. The leaf nodes have an entry for every value of the search field, along with a data pointer to the record (or to the block that contains this record). The leaf nodes of the B+ tree are linked together to provide ordered access to the search field to the records. Internal nodes of a B+ tree are used to guide the search. Some search field values from the leaf nodes are repeated in the internal nodes of the B+ tree.