Double hashing is generally more efficient than linear probing in terms of collision handling.Group of answer choicesTrueFalse

Analysis of Double Hashing vs. Linear Probing

1. Definition and Context:

   • Double Hashing: A collision resolution technique in hash tables where a second hash function is used to determine the new position for an element following a collision. This approach helps in distributing keys more uniformly across the hash table.
   • Linear Probing: Another collision resolution method where, upon encountering a collision, the algorithm checks the next slot in a linear sequence until an empty slot is found.

2. Efficiency Comparison:

   • Collision Resolution: Double hashing tends to produce fewer clustering issues compared to linear probing. In linear probing, once a collision occurs, subsequent insertions may lead to primary clustering, which can degrade performance.
   • Uniform Distribution: With double hashing, the use of a second hash function helps in dispersing keys more evenly, which reduces the likelihood of multiple keys ending up in the same area of the hash table. This generally leads to better performance in terms of access time.

3. Conclusion:

   • Given that double hashing mitigates clustering more effectively and provides better dispersion of entries, it is generally considered more efficient than linear probing in terms of handling collisions.

Final Answer

True: Double hashing is generally more efficient than linear probing in terms of collision handling.