What is a Data Structure?

Question

Accepted Answer

Data structures are organized formats for storing and managing data efficiently for various operations.

1. Definition: A data structure is a way of organizing data to enable efficient access and modification.
2. Types: Common types include arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, and graphs.
3. Arrays: Fixed-size structures that store elements of the same type in contiguous memory locations.
4. Linked Lists: Collections of nodes where each node contains data and a reference to the next node.
5. Stacks: Last-in, first-out (LIFO) structures used for tasks like function call management.
6. Queues: First-in, first-out (FIFO) structures used in scheduling and resource management.
7. Trees: Hierarchical structures used for representing data with parent-child relationships, like file systems.
8. Graphs: Collections of nodes connected by edges, used to represent networks like social connections.

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