aloalgoMin Heap vs Max Heap
The only difference between min and max heaps is which element is at the root. Choosing the right one depends on what you need quick access to.Key Differences
| Property | Min Heap | Max Heap |
|---|---|---|
| Root element | Smallest | Largest |
| Parent vs children | Parent ≤ children | Parent ≥ children |
| Pop returns | Minimum element | Maximum element |
Visual Comparison
When to Use Each
Use Min Heap When:
- K Largest Elements: Maintain heap of size K, smallest of the K largest is at root
- Dijkstra's Algorithm: Always process the closest unvisited node
- Merge K Sorted Lists: Get the smallest element among all list heads
- Task Scheduling: Process earliest deadline first
Use Max Heap When:
- K Smallest Elements: Maintain heap of size K, largest of the K smallest is at root
- Priority Queue: Process highest priority first
- Maximum in Sliding Window: Track the maximum in current window
The K-th Element Trick
A common pattern: to find K largest elements, use a min-heap of size K. This seems counterintuitive but makes sense:Two Heaps Pattern
Some problems use both heaps together, like finding the running median:Quick Decision Guide
- Need the smallest? → Min heap
- Need the largest? → Max heap
- Need K largest? → Min heap of size K
- Need K smallest? → Max heap of size K
- Need median? → Both heaps
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