Data Structure is one of the many credits of the computer science stream. It is taught in the early years of engineering to computer science engineering students. It is very important to learn data structure to lead a successful career in life. Every developer or future developer should have a good hold on data structure topics. It always helps in coming up with an optimized solution for a given problem in the real world. Almost every requirement in the software industry somewhere relates to data structure, that’s why you will see big MNCs or FANG companies like Google, Facebook, Amazon, and Netflix focus more on Data structure, algorithms & problem-solving capability of the candidate in the respective interviews.
What is a data structure?
A data structure is a way of organizing data so that it can be easily accessed and manipulated. Data structures are used in almost all programming languages, and they are essential for efficient programming.
Why are data structures important?
Data structures are important because they allow programmers to store and organize data in a way that is efficient and easy to use. This makes programs faster and easier to write, and it also makes them more reliable.
Different types of data structures
There are many different types of data structures, each with its advantages and disadvantages. Some of the most common data structures include:
We will revisit each of these in the upcoming articles. but let’s understand them briefly here
Arrays
An array is a data structure that stores data in a contiguous block of memory. Arrays are very efficient for accessing data, but they can be difficult to update.
Linked lists
A linked list is a data structure that stores data in a linked list of nodes. Linked lists are easy to update, but they can be slow to access data.
Stacks
A stack is a data structure that stores data in a last-in, first-out (LIFO) order. Stacks are useful for storing data that needs to be processed in a specific order, such as the call stack in a programming language.
Queues
A queue is a data structure that stores data in a first-in, first-out (FIFO) order. Queues are useful for storing data that needs to be processed in a specific order, such as the event queue in a video game.
Trees
A tree is a data structure that stores data in a hierarchical order. Trees are useful for storing data that has a natural hierarchy, such as the file system on a computer.
Graphs
A graph is a data structure that stores data in a network of nodes and edges. Graphs are useful for storing data that has a complex relationship, such as the social network of a group of people.
Searching and sorting algorithms
Searching and sorting algorithms are used to find and sort data in data structures. Searching algorithms are used to find a specific piece of data in a data structure while sorting algorithms are used to arrange the data in a data structure in a specific order.
Applications of data structures
Data structures are used in a wide variety of applications, including:
- Operating systems
- Compilers
- Databases
- Web applications
- Video games
- Artificial intelligence
Further Readings
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Data_structure
- Check out our other Concepts related blogs. you will enjoy reading them 🙂
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