Description: A leaf node is a node in a data structure known as a tree that has no children, meaning it is not connected to any other node. In graph theory, a tree is a special type of graph that is acyclic and connected, meaning it contains no cycles and there is a unique path between any pair of nodes. Leaves are fundamental elements in the structure of a tree, as they represent the endpoints of the hierarchy. In a binary tree, for example, each node can have up to two children, and leaves are those nodes that have no descendants. This characteristic makes them key elements for various operations in algorithms, such as searching, inserting, and deleting nodes. Leaves are also important in representing hierarchical data, such as in file systems or in data structures like decision trees. In summary, leaves are terminal nodes that play a crucial role in the organization and manipulation of data within graph theory and related data structures.
