Heap queue algorithm (a.k.a. priority queue).
Heaps are arrays for which a[k] <= a[2*k+1] and a[k] <= a[2*k+2] for
all k, counting elements from 0. For the sake of comparison,
non-existing elements are considered to be infinite. The interesting
property of a heap is that a[0] is always its smallest element.
Usage:
heap = [] # creates an empty heap
heappush(heap, item) # pushes a new item on the heap
item = heappop(heap) # pops the smallest item from the heap
item = heap[0] # smallest item on the heap without popping it
heapify(x) # transforms list into a heap, in-place, in linear time
item = heapreplace(heap, item) # pops and returns smallest item, and adds
# new item; the heap size is unchanged
Our API differs from textbook heap algorithms as follows:
- We use 0-based indexing. This makes the relationship between the
index for a node and the indexes for its children slightly less
obvious, but is more suitable since Python uses 0-based indexing.
- Our heappop() method returns the smallest item, not the largest.
These two make it possible to view the heap as a regular Python list
without surprises: heap[0] is the smallest item, and heap.sort()
maintains the heap invariant!
heapify(heap, /) Transform list into a heap, in-place, in O(len(heap)) time.
heappop(heap, /) Pop the smallest item off the heap, maintaining the heap invariant.
heappush(heap, item, /) Push item onto heap, maintaining the heap invariant.
heappushpop(heap, item, /) Push item on the heap, then pop and return the smallest item from the heap. The combined action runs more efficiently than heappush() followed by a separate call to heappop().
heapreplace(heap, item, /)
Pop and return the current smallest value, and add the new item.
This is more efficient than heappop() followed by heappush(), and can be
more appropriate when using a fixed-size heap. Note that the value
returned may be larger than item! That constrains reasonable uses of
this routine unless written as part of a conditional replacement:
if item > heap[0]:
item = heapreplace(heap, item)