Slide 26

Traversal Motivation

How do we visit every node in a tree in a systematic order?

The Challenge

Unlike linear data structures like arrays, trees don't have a single, obvious order. We need well-defined strategies to ensure we visit each node exactly once.

The Solution: Traversal Algorithms

These algorithms provide a precise recipe for navigating the tree. The order in which we visit nodes is critical, as different orders produce different, meaningful results.

Upcoming: The Three Main Traversal Orders

  • Preorder (Root-Left-Right)
  • Inorder (Left-Root-Right)
  • Postorder (Left-Right-Root)