What is Data Structure?

Data Structure

A data structure is a way of organizing and storing data in a computer so that it can be accessed and modified efficiently. Different types of data structures are suited to different kinds of applications, and some are highly specialized to specific tasks. ­

Types of Data Structures

Two types of data structures are as follows:

             3.1 Linear Data Structures

             3.2 Non-linear Data Structures

3.1. Linear Data Structures

               Linear data structures are data structures that store data in a linear fashion, meaning that the data elements are stored sequentially one after the other. Some examples of linear data structures include:

·         Arrays: an array is a sequence of elements of the same type, stored in contiguous memory locations. Arrays are efficient for accessing and modifying elements by their index, but they are not suitable for inserting or deleting elements in the middle of the array.

·         Linked lists: a linked list is a sequence of nodes, where each node stores a value and a reference (pointer) to the next node in the list. Linked lists are efficient for inserting and deleting elements, but they are not as efficient for accessing and modifying elements by their index.

·         Stacks: a stack is a linear data structure that follows the Last In First Out (LIFO) principle. Stacks are often used to store temporary data, such as during the evaluation of expressions or the execution of a function.

·         Queues: a queue is a linear data structure that follows the First In First Out (FIFO) principle. Queues are often used to store data that needs to be processed in the order it was received.

Linear data structures have the advantage of being simple and easy to implement, and they are suitable for storing and accessing data in a sequential order. However, they are not as efficient for inserting and deleting elements in the middle of the data structure, and they do not support the more complex operations that are possible with non-linear data structures such as trees and graphs.

 

3.2. Non-linear Data Structures

 Non-linear data structures are data structures that store data in a non-linear fashion, meaning that the data elements are not stored sequentially one after the other. Some examples of non-linear data structures include:

·         Trees: a tree is a hierarchical data structure where each node has zero or more child nodes. Trees are often used to represent the structure of data, such as a file system or the structure of a programming language.

·         Graphs: a graph is a collection of nodes and edges, where edges represent relationships between the nodes. Graphs are often used to represent networks, such as social networks or transportation networks.

Non-linear data structures have the advantage of supporting more complex operations, such as searching and traversing the data structure in different ways. They are also more efficient for inserting and deleting elements, as they do not require the entire data structure to be rearranged like linear data structures do. However, they can be more difficult to implement and may not be as efficient for simple operations such as accessing and modifying elements by their index.