A prefix trie index for inverted files

A prefix trie index (originally called trie hashing) is applied to the problem of providing fast search times, fast load times and fast update properties in a bibliographic or full text retrieval system. For all but the largest dictionaries a single key search in the dictionary under trie hashing takes exactly one disk read. Front compression of search keys is used to enhance performance. Partial combining of the postings into the dictionary is analyzed as a method to give both faster retrieval and improved update properties for the trie hashing inverted file. Statistics are given for a test database consisting of an online catalog at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science Library of the University of Western Ontario. The effect of changing various parameters of prefix tries are tested in this application.