SortedDictionaryTKeyTValue

SortedDictionary is a data structure that stores key-value pairs in a sorted order based on the keys. It is similar to a regular dictionary or hash map but guarantees that when iterating through its elements, they will be presented in ascending order of their keys. This sorted property is maintained automatically as new elements are added or existing ones are removed.

The primary advantage of SortedDictionary is its ability to provide ordered access to data without requiring explicit sorting operations at the time of retrieval. This makes it efficient for scenarios where ordered iteration or range-based queries are common. For instance, retrieving all entries within a specific key range can be done efficiently.

SortedDictionary is typically implemented using balanced binary search trees, such as B-trees or Red-black trees. These tree structures allow for efficient insertion, deletion, and retrieval of elements while maintaining the sorted order. The time complexity for most common operations, like adding, removing, or finding an element, is logarithmic with respect to the number of elements in the dictionary.

Common uses for SortedDictionary include implementing lookup tables, maintaining ordered lists of items, or managing data where the order of access is important for performance or functionality. It is available in various programming languages and libraries, often as part of their collection or data structure offerings.