Types of Data Structures

A Comprehensive guide to different types of Data Structures in Computer Science.

Data structures are ways to organize and store data in a computer so that it can be accessed and modified efficiently. Here are some common types of data structures:

1

Arrays

  • Definition: A collection of elements identified by index or key.
  • Use Cases: Storing a fixed-size sequential collection of elements.
2

Linked Lists

  • Definition: A linear collection of data elements, where each element points to the next.
  • Use Cases: Dynamic memory allocation and efficient insertions/deletions.
3

Stacks

  • Definition: A collection of elements that follows the Last In First Out (LIFO) principle.
  • Use Cases: Function call management, undo mechanisms in applications.
4

Queues

  • Definition: A collection of elements that follows the First In First Out (FIFO) principle.
  • Use Cases: Task scheduling, handling requests in a server.
5

Trees

  • Definition: A hierarchical structure consisting of nodes, with a single node as the root.
  • Use Cases: Representing hierarchical data, such as file systems.
6

Graphs

  • Definition: A collection of nodes connected by edges.
  • Use Cases: Representing networks, social connections, and more.

Understanding these data structures is crucial for efficient programming and algorithm design.