AlgoScope

Linear Probing

Data structureintermediateHash Tables and Collision Handling

On a collision, walk forward one slot at a time until a free one turns up.

Decision · step 3 of 8Hash Table: Insert that walks past a collision
0121232133445678910probe12 > 45

Slot 1 holds 12, not 45. Walk on to slot 2.

Open in the player →or start at step 3

What you will see

The key hops slot by slot until it lands; clusters form and are visible.

How hash table works →

Cost

insertO(1) expected
searchO(1) expected
worst case opO(n)
SpaceO(capacity)

Performance degrades sharply as load factor approaches 1 (primary clustering).

How you work with it here

play it through, step one change at a time, scrub to any step, run it on your own input, try operations in any order.

Screen readers: Each element is an accessibility element with position, value and state; structural changes are announced per step.

Reduced motion: Elements appear at their destination with a crossfade; no travel longer than the element's own size.

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