FINDNODE

FindNode is a generic term used in programming to describe a function or method that locates a node within a data structure such as a tree, graph, or document object model. The function typically returns a reference to the node that satisfies a given criterion or identifier, or a null/undefined value if no such node exists. FindNode is not a standard language construct but a common naming convention across libraries and frameworks.

In trees, FindNode searches for a node based on a key or property. The approach depends on the structure: in a binary search tree, a key-based search follows the tree’s ordered comparisons, often yielding O(log n) time in balanced cases. In an unstructured or general tree, a traversal such as depth-first search or breadth-first search is required, potentially visiting every node in O(n) time.

In graphs, FindNode typically implies a traversal to locate a node by its identifier or attribute. Algorithms like DFS or BFS are common, and the search may terminate early if the target node is found. In document models such as XML or HTML, similar concepts appear as selectors or queries that locate nodes by path, tag, attribute, or content; in graph databases, a node lookup uses identifiers or properties.

Complexity for FindNode depends on data organization and indexing. Without helpful structure, lookup is O(n). With balanced trees or indexed collections, it can approach O(log n) or near O(1) time for hashed indexes.

Variants include FindNodeByPath, FindNodeById, and FindNodeByPredicate, each adapting the core idea to different data representations. See also search algorithms, traversal methods, and indexing.