Pronunciation: [tˈɒp hˈiːp] (IPA) 
The spelling of the phrase "top heap" is relatively straightforward. "Top" is spelled as it sounds, with the short "o" sound followed by the "p" consonant and a silent "e." "Heap" is spelled with the long "e" vowel sound followed by the "h" consonant and a silent "p." In IPA phonetic transcription, "top" is written as /tɑp/ and "heap" as /hip/. Together, the phrase is pronounced /tɑp hip/ with equal stress on both words.
A "top heap" is a term used in computer science and data structures to describe a specialized form of a binary heap. A binary heap is a complete binary tree that satisfies either the min-heap or max-heap property. In a top heap, the max-heap property is enforced, which means that the value of each parent node is greater than or equal to the values of its child nodes.
A top heap is typically implemented as an array where each index represents a node in the heap. The topmost element of the heap, usually located at index 0, is the maximum value, and it is said to be at the "top" of the heap. The child nodes of an element at index 'i' are located at indices '2i+1' and '2i+2'.
The primary advantage of a top heap is its efficient retrieval of the maximum element, which always resides at the top. This makes it a suitable data structure for finding the largest element in a collection or maintaining a priority queue where the maximum priority item should be quickly accessible.
Operations performed on a top heap include insertion, deletion, and retrieval. When a new element is inserted, it is added at the bottom and then "bubbled up" by swapping it with its parent until the heap property is satisfied. Deletion involves removing the top element, replacing it with the last element in the heap, and then "sinking down" that element until the heap property is restored.
Overall, a top heap provides an efficient way to manage a collection of elements, ensuring quick access to the maximum value while maintaining a structured order.
