Question

In a hashed file organization, the address of each ________ is determined using an algorithm.

A) Constraint
B) Key
C) Column
D) Row

Answer 1

In hashed file organization, the algorithmically determined address relates to the key of each record, allowing for rapid data access and retrieval. The hash function calculates the precise address, while collision resolution techniques handle address conflicts.

Step-by-step explanation:

In a hashed file organization, the address of each key is determined using an algorithm. This method involves applying a hash function to a key value to compute the address for the storage location of the corresponding record. The idea behind hashing is to enable quick data retrieval by calculating the exact storage location of a data item, which eliminates the need for searching.

The process of hashing involves several steps:

1. Take the key from the record.
2. Apply a hash function to compute a hash value.
3. Use the hash value to determine the storage address.
4. Store or retrieve the item at the calculated address.

In case of a collision, where two keys compute to the same address, various collision resolution techniques can be used, such as chaining or open addressing.