A self-balancing ordered tree where all data lives in leaf nodes linked together. Inner nodes hold separator keys for routing.
Inner Node
Leaf Node
Highlighted
Split/Merge
4
Order
0
Height
0
Keys
Insert keys to build the tree. When a node exceeds order-1 keys, it splits.
No operation in progress
Configuration
Insert Key
Delete Key
Search
Algorithm Reference
INSERT:
1. Find correct leaf node L
2. Insert key in sorted order
3. If L has space → done
4. Else split L into L and L2
→ Copy up middle key to parent
→ Repeat upward if parent full
DELETE:
1. Find leaf L with entry
2. Remove entry
3. If L ≥ half-full → done
4. Try redistribute from sibling
5. Else merge L with sibling
→ Delete separator from parent
SEARCH:
1. Start at root
2. At each inner node: find
correct child pointer
3. Follow until leaf
4. Scan leaf for key