# Binary Search Tree Insert and search for numbers in a binary tree. When we need to represent sorted data, an array does not make a good data structure. Say we have the array `[1, 3, 4, 5]`, and we add 2 to it so it becomes `[1, 3, 4, 5, 2]` now we must sort the entire array again! We can improve on this by realizing that we only need to make space for the new item `[1, nil, 3, 4, 5]`, and then adding the item in the space we added. But this still requires us to shift many elements down by one. Binary Search Trees, however, can operate on sorted data much more efficiently. A binary search tree consists of a series of connected nodes. Each node contains a piece of data (e.g. the number 3), a variable named `left`, and a variable named `right`. The `left` and `right` variables point at `nil`, or other nodes. Since these other nodes in turn have other nodes beneath them, we say that the left and right variables are pointing at subtrees. All data in the left subtree is less than or equal to the current node's data, and all data in the right subtree is greater than the current node's data. For example, if we had a node containing the data 4, and we added the data 2, our tree would look like this: 4 / 2 If we then added 6, it would look like this: 4 / \ 2 6 If we then added 3, it would look like this 4 / \ 2 6 \ 3 And if we then added 1, 5, and 7, it would look like this 4 / \ / \ 2 6 / \ / \ 1 3 5 7 ## Setup Go through the setup instructions for JavaScript to install the necessary dependencies: http://exercism.io/languages/javascript/installation ## Running the test suite The provided test suite uses [Jasmine](https://jasmine.github.io/). You can install it by opening a terminal window and running the following command: ```sh npm install -g jasmine ``` Run the test suite from the exercise directory with: ```sh jasmine binary-search-tree.spec.js ``` In many test suites all but the first test have been marked "pending". Once you get a test passing, activate the next one by changing `xit` to `it`. ## Source Josh Cheek [https://twitter.com/josh_cheek](https://twitter.com/josh_cheek) ## Submitting Incomplete Solutions It's possible to submit an incomplete solution so you can see how others have completed the exercise.