Skip lists

Skip lists are a probabilistic list-based data structure that are a simple and efficient substitute for balanced trees. Probabilistic balancing can also be used for tree-based data structures. Skip lists can be used to implement a dictionary abstract data type (i.e. implementing searches, insertions and deletions). In William Pugh's "Cookbook" paper, below, he shows skip lists are as versatile as balanced trees.
Overview of skiplists

A Skiplist Cookbook by William Pugh (.ps.gz)


Kym Horsell /
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