Which index type is typically chosen for general-purpose use because it supports both exact-match and range queries?

Which index type is typically chosen for general-purpose use because it supports both exact-match and range queries?

• A. B-tree
• B. Hash Index
• C. Inverted Index
• D. Quadtree

Answer: (A)

An index that is ordered and balanced is ideal for general-purpose queries because it preserves the natural order of keys and supports efficient both exact matches and range scans. A B-tree achieves this by storing keys across multiple levels with many keys per node and maintaining a balanced height, so searches are logarithmic in size and a range query can start at the first key in the range and then traverse consecutive keys in order. This combination provides fast exact-lookups and practical, efficient range queries, which is why it’s the go-to choice for general indexing. Hash indexes offer fast exact matches but no inherent order, making range queries difficult; inverted indexes are tailored for text search rather than general data ranges; and quadtrees are designed for multi-dimensional spatial data, not typical attribute value ranges.

An index that is ordered and balanced is ideal for general-purpose queries because it preserves the natural order of keys and supports efficient both exact matches and range scans. A B-tree achieves this by storing keys across multiple levels with many keys per node and maintaining a balanced height, so searches are logarithmic in size and a range query can start at the first key in the range and then traverse consecutive keys in order. This combination provides fast exact-lookups and practical, efficient range queries, which is why it’s the go-to choice for general indexing. Hash indexes offer fast exact matches but no inherent order, making range queries difficult; inverted indexes are tailored for text search rather than general data ranges; and quadtrees are designed for multi-dimensional spatial data, not typical attribute value ranges.