Summary
In this chapter, we explored the world of dictionaries, mastering the techniques to add, remove, and retrieve elements, while also understanding how they differ from sets. We delved into the concept of hashing, learning how to construct hash tables (or hash maps) and implement fundamental operations like insertion, deletion, and retrieval. Moreover, we learned how to craft hash functions and examined two distinct techniques for handling collisions: separate chaining and linear probing.
We also explored JavaScript's built-in Map
class, as well as the specialized WeakMap
and WeakSet
classes, which offer unique capabilities for memory management. Through a variety of practical examples and a LeetCode exercise, we solidified our understanding of these data structures and their applications.
Equipped with this knowledge, we are now prepared to tackle the concept of recursion in the next chapter, paving the way for our exploration of another essential data structure: trees.