ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

PH-tree

A ph-tree is like a big tree with many branches, but instead of leaves or fruits, it stores information. Each branch of the tree has a label, which is actually a sequence of characters (like letters).

In this tree, one can store information about points in a two-dimensional space (for example, the latitude and longitude of a location on the map). When we add new points to the tree, each branch of the tree represents a bit of information about the location of the point.

The tree is constructed in such a way that nearby points are stored in nearby branches, and distant points are stored farther apart. For instance, if two points are very close together, they will both be stored in branches that have a similar label.

This way, when we want to search for points near a specific location, we can start at the root of the tree, and follow branches that are closest to our search location. In this way, we can quickly find all the points that are near the location we are interested in.

In summary, a ph-tree is a special kind of data structure that allows us to efficiently store and search for points in a two-dimensional space. It is like a big tree that organizes points based on their location, so we can quickly find nearby points when we need to.