Hash table

A hash table is a data structure that stores information efficiently by using a unique key for each item. Think of it like an advanced digital filing cabinet: when you add an item, a special function called a hash function assigns a unique address based on its key. This allows quick retrieval, as you can directly access the information using its key rather than searching through all data. Hash tables are commonly used in databases, caches, and programming languages to achieve fast data lookup and insertion.