ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

binary search tree

A binary search tree is like a game of "guess the number," but with words or phrases instead of numbers. In a binary search tree, each node is like a question. When you start the game, the top of the tree is the first question. Depending on your answer, the game will send you left or right down the tree. The answers branch out like a tree until you get to the final answer at the bottom.