Animation
This animation shows how keys are inserted into a B-tree while maintaining balance through node splitting and key promotion.
What Is a B-Tree?
A B-tree is a self-balancing search tree designed for systems that read and write large blocks of data. Unlike binary trees, each node can contain multiple keys and children.
Insertion Process Explained
- Locate the appropriate leaf node
- Insert the key in sorted order
- Split the node if it overflows
- Promote the median key upward
Teaching & UX/UI Design Principles
B-tree insertion involves multiple structural changes that can be difficult to follow in static diagrams. This visualization makes each transformation explicit.
- Cognitive Load Reduction: Node splits and promotions are animated instead of described abstractly.
- Step-by-Step Progression: Each insertion action is shown independently to clarify cause-and-effect.
- Object Constancy: Tree nodes remain visually stable as keys move and nodes split.
- Visual Hierarchy: Highlighting emphasizes active nodes and promoted keys.
- Minimal UI: The interface keeps focus on tree structure and balance.
Voice narration will be added in future iterations to reinforce conceptual understanding and guide learners through rebalancing.