What is a hierarchical database?

A hierarchical database is a type of database based on a tree-like structure, where each child has only one parent. Data is organized into levels or segments.

Key features:

• Structure: Tree-like, with a root element (parent of all) and subordinate elements (children).
• Relationships: A "one-to-many" relationship between parent and children.
• Navigation: Access to data is achieved by moving through the hierarchy from the root to the leaves.

Example:

// Example of a hierarchical database structure
{
    "Company": {
        "Departments": [
            {
                "Name": "Development",
                "Employees": [
                    {
                        "Name": "Ivan",
                        "Position": "Developer"
                    },
                    {
                        "Name": "Peter",
                        "Position": "Tester"
                    }
                ]
            },
            {
                "Name": "Marketing",
                "Employees": [
                    {
                        "Name": "Elena",
                        "Position": "Marketer"
                    }
                ]
            }
        ]
    }
}

Such databases are well-suited for representing data with a natural hierarchy, such as organizational structures, file systems, or product catalogs. However, they may be less flexible for representing complex "many-to-many" relationships.