What does "bucket entries" mean in the context of a hashtable?

In the context of a hash table, "bucket entries" refer to the individual elements or records that are stored within a bucket. A bucket is a container or a slot in the hash table where one or more entries can be stored. The concept of buckets is central to how hash tables manage and organize data.

Here are some key points about bucket entries in hash tables:

1. Hash Function and Buckets: A hash function is used to compute an index (or hash code) for a given key, which determines the bucket where the corresponding value will be stored. This process allows for efficient data retrieval by directly accessing the bucket associated with the key[5].

2. Handling Collisions: When multiple keys hash to the same bucket (a situation known as a collision), the bucket must accommodate multiple entries. There are different strategies to handle collisions:

   • Separate Chaining: Each bucket contains a linked list or another collection of entries. When a collision occurs, the new entry is added to the list within the bucket[1][3].
   • Open Addressing: Each bucket holds only one entry. If a collision occurs, the algorithm searches for the next available bucket to store the entry[6][7].

3. Bucket Structure: The structure of a bucket can vary. In separate chaining, a bucket typically contains a list of entries. In open addressing, a bucket might simply be an array slot that can hold...