Heap Order Property

The ordering can be one of two types:

  • The min-heap property: the value of each node is less than or equal to the value of its children, with the minimum-value element at the root.
    (Here, "best" means "smallest.")

  • The max-heap property: the value of each node is greater than or equal to the value of its children, with the maximum-value element at the root.
    (Here, "best" means "largest.")

Exercise Which of the following are a valid binary (max) heap?

Solution

The two on the top are valid binary (max) heap, but the bottom two are not.