ADVANCED DATA STRUCTURES PROGRAM • LEVEL 14 — BALANCED BINARY SEARCH TREES

Find an Overlap with an Interval Tree

Learn how to find an overlap with an interval tree using a clear C program.

AdvancedSelf-balancing BSTLogarithmic operations

PROBLEM UNDERSTANDING

Input and expected output

Sample input
No input required
Sample output
Overlap = [5,20]

COMPLETE C PROGRAM

Complete C implementation

ads-interval-tree-overlap-search.c
Open in compiler
#include <stdio.h>
#include <stdlib.h>

struct Node { int low, high, maximum; struct Node *left, *right; };
struct Node *insert_interval(struct Node *root, int low, int high) { if (!root) { root = malloc(sizeof *root); if (!root) exit(EXIT_FAILURE); root->low = low; root->high = root->maximum = high; root->left = root->right = NULL; return root; } if (low < root->low) root->left = insert_interval(root->left, low, high); else root->right = insert_interval(root->right, low, high); if (high > root->maximum) root->maximum = high; return root; }
struct Node *overlap(struct Node *root, int low, int high) { while (root && (root->high < low || high < root->low)) { if (root->left && root->left->maximum >= low) root = root->left; else root = root->right; } return root; }
void free_intervals(struct Node *root) { if (root) { free_intervals(root->left); free_intervals(root->right); free(root); } }

int main(void)
{
    int intervals[][2] = {{15,20},{10,30},{17,19},{5,20},{12,15},{30,40}}; struct Node *root = NULL;
    for (int i = 0; i < 6; i++) root = insert_interval(root, intervals[i][0], intervals[i][1]);
    struct Node *match = overlap(root, 6, 7); printf("Overlap = [%d,%d]\n", match->low, match->high); free_intervals(root); return 0;
}

GUIDED CODE TOUR • NOT LIVE EXECUTION

Study the program line by line

Use the real compiler button above to run and debug with different inputs.

CURRENT STEP

Select Start to walk through the important lines.

SELECTED LINE

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EXPECTED OUTPUT FOR THE SAMPLE

Overlap = [5,20]
0%Step 0 of 0

PROGRAM EXPLANATION

Algorithm and explanation

  1. Read the required input values.
  2. Use each subtree's maximum high endpoint to discard branches that cannot overlap the query.
  3. Display the computed result.

Use each subtree's maximum high endpoint to discard branches that cannot overlap the query.

EFFICIENCY

Time and space complexity

Time complexity

O(h)

Auxiliary space

O(h)

DEBUGGING CHECKLIST

Common mistakes

Check this

Use the correct format specifier for every variable.

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Initialize variables before using their values.

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Check braces, semicolons and input order carefully.

Try it yourself

Practice: Run the program with the sample input, predict its output, and then test one boundary case of your own.