Hierarchical Data Structure (Noun)
Meaning
A structure of data having several levels arranged in a treelike structure.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- A file system's directories and subdirectories form a hierarchical data structure that organizes data in a logical manner.
- In a company's organizational chart, each employee's position and title are part of a hierarchical data structure that reflects the business's management structure.
- The hierarchical data structure of a taxonomic classification system groups living organisms based on shared characteristics and evolutionary history.
- XML and HTML documents rely on a hierarchical data structure to define the relationships between elements and attributes.
- Data stored in a hierarchical data structure can be efficiently searched and retrieved by traversing the tree from top to bottom.