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Data Structures Explained

The document provides a detailed explanation of various data structures including arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, hash tables, trees, and graphs. Each data structure is described with its characteristics, advantages, and examples of usage. Understanding these data structures is essential for efficient algorithm design and performance optimization in software systems.

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5 views2 pages

Data Structures Explained

The document provides a detailed explanation of various data structures including arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, hash tables, trees, and graphs. Each data structure is described with its characteristics, advantages, and examples of usage. Understanding these data structures is essential for efficient algorithm design and performance optimization in software systems.

Uploaded by

slafer438
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Data Structures Explained in Detail

Introduction
A data structure is a way of organizing, managing, and storing data so that it can be accessed and
modified efficiently. They are a fundamental part of computer science and are used in almost every
software system.

1. Arrays
An array is a collection of elements, each identified by an index or key. Arrays store elements in
contiguous memory locations. - Fixed size once declared - Elements can be accessed in O(1) time -
Insertion and deletion are costly (O(n)) because elements need shifting Example: int arr[5] =
{1,2,3,4,5}

2. Linked Lists
A linked list is a linear data structure where each element (node) contains data and a pointer to the
next node. - Dynamic size - Efficient insertion/deletion at beginning or middle - Sequential access
only (O(n) to find an element) Types: Singly Linked List, Doubly Linked List, Circular Linked List

3. Stacks
A stack is a linear data structure that follows the LIFO (Last In, First Out) principle. - Insertion and
deletion at the top (O(1)) - Common operations: push(), pop(), peek() Example: Undo functionality
in text editors

4. Queues
A queue is a linear data structure that follows the FIFO (First In, First Out) principle. - Enqueue
(insert at rear), Dequeue (remove from front) - Variations: Circular Queue, Priority Queue, Deque
Example: Printer job scheduling

5. Hash Tables
A hash table stores key-value pairs. It uses a hash function to compute an index into an array of
buckets. - Average O(1) lookup, insertion, deletion - Collisions handled with chaining or open
addressing Example: Dictionary in Python

6. Trees
A tree is a hierarchical data structure with a root node and child nodes. - Binary Tree: each node
has at most two children - Binary Search Tree (BST): left child < root < right child - Applications:
databases, file systems, expression parsing - Traversals: Inorder, Preorder, Postorder

7. Graphs
A graph consists of vertices (nodes) and edges (connections). - Directed or Undirected - Weighted
or Unweighted - Representations: Adjacency Matrix, Adjacency List - Applications: social networks,
shortest path (Dijkstra), web crawlers

Conclusion
Data structures form the backbone of efficient algorithms. Choosing the right data structure for a
given problem can drastically improve performance and scalability.

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