A trie is a tree-like data structure used to store a dynamic set of strings, offering efficient prefix-based search and retrieval, commonly used in autocomplete systems and spell checkers.

A trie, also known as a prefix tree or digital tree, is a specialized tree-like data structure designed to store a dynamic set of strings, enabling efficient prefix-based search and retrieval. Each node in a trie represents a character of a string, and the paths from the root to the leaves represent the strings stored in the trie. This structure allows for quick lookups, insertions, and deletions of strings while also supporting prefix searches, making it particularly advantageous in applications like autocomplete systems, spell checkers, and IP routing.

One of the key advantages of using a trie is its ability to provide fast search times, typically O(m), where m is the length of the string being searched. This is significantly faster than traditional data structures like hash tables or binary search trees for certain applications, especially when handling large datasets of strings with common prefixes. Additionally, tries can store strings in a compact manner, reducing memory usage by sharing common prefixes among strings.

Another notable feature of tries is their ability to perform operations such as finding all strings with a given prefix efficiently. This capability is particularly useful in applications that require real-time suggestions based on user input.

Despite their advantages, tries can also have downsides, such as increased memory consumption compared to other data structures when dealing with sparse datasets. Therefore, understanding the benefits and limitations of tries is essential for selecting the appropriate data structure for specific applications involving string storage and retrieval.