Hashing Questions
The main difference between linear probing and double hashing lies in the way they handle collisions in a hash table.
Linear probing is a collision resolution technique where, if a collision occurs (i.e., when two keys hash to the same index), the next available slot in the hash table is searched sequentially until an empty slot is found. This means that if the initial hash index is occupied, the algorithm will probe the next index, and so on, until an empty slot is found. However, linear probing can lead to clustering, where consecutive elements are placed in close proximity, causing longer search times.
On the other hand, double hashing is a collision resolution technique that uses two hash functions. When a collision occurs, the algorithm applies a second hash function to calculate the number of steps to probe for the next available slot. This means that if the initial hash index is occupied, the algorithm will probe the next index based on the second hash function's result. Double hashing helps to distribute the elements more evenly across the hash table, reducing clustering and improving search times.
In summary, linear probing sequentially searches for the next available slot in case of collisions, while double hashing uses a second hash function to determine the step size for probing.