What are the different types of Data Structure?
A data structure is an expertly designed format for arranging, processing, accessing, and storing data. Data structures come in both simple and complex forms, all of which are made to organise data for a certain use. Data structures make it easy for users to access the data they require and make proper use of it.The organising of information is framed by data structures in a way that both machines and people can better grasp.
A data structure may be chosen or created in computer science and computer programming to store data in order to be used with different methods. In some circumstances, the design of the data structure and the algorithm’s fundamental operations are closely related. Each data structure includes details about the values of the data, the connections between the data, and, occasionally, functions that can be used to manipulate the data.
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What are Data Structures?
Data structures are used to store and organise data. It is a technique for organising data on a computer such that it is readily available and current.
Based on your needs and project, you should decide which data format is ideal for you. For instance, if you wish to maintain data in memory in a sequential order, you can use the Array data structure.
Types of data structures
The kind of operations that will be necessary or the kinds of algorithms that will be used in a given situation will decide the data structure type that is employed. Among the several data structure kinds are the following:
Linear Data Structures
Array Data Structure
The elements in memory are arranged in an array in a continuous memory. An array only contains elements of the same kind. Additionally, the programming language affects the kinds of elements that can be stored in arrays.
Graphs
An abstract, non-linear data structure known as a graph is composed of a finite number of nodes and edges. The edges of the graph are just lines or arcs that connect the nodes, which are sometimes referred to as “vertices” and carry values.
Graphs are frequently used to represent networks, including pathways in a city or even circuit networks. They can be used as models of digital networks and are excellent for solving problems in the actual world.
For instance, each user on Facebook could be represented by a node (or vertex). Then, each edge may represent the connection between that person and another user, and each vertex could have information about that user.
Stack Data Structure
The LIFO technique is used to store elements in stack data structures. In other words, the last element in a stack will be taken out first.
It operates similarly to a stack of plates, where the final plate left on the pile is taken out first. Visit Stack Data Structure to find out more.
Queue Data Structure
The first element deposited in the queue will be deleted first in the queue data structure, unlike stack, which operates according to the FIFO principle.
It functions exactly like a line at the ticket counter, where the person in line first receives the ticket. Visit Queue Data Structure to find out more.
Linked List Data Structure
Data components in a linked list data structure are linked together by a number of nodes. Additionally, each node has an address for the node behind it as well as data elements.
Heaps
Similar to a binary tree, a heap is a sort of binary tree in which parent nodes and their offspring are compared. As a result, the values inside the nodes can be ordered appropriately. In addition to being represented as binary arrays, heaps can also be represented as trees.
There are two distinct heap kinds. The keys of the offspring are less than or equal to the parent’s key in a min heap. The parent’s key in a max heap is higher than or equal to the keys of its children.
Algorithms frequently employ heaps to build priority queues and determine the smallest or largest value in an array.
Non linear data structures
Graph Data Structure
Each node is referred to as a vertex in a graph data structure, and each vertex is connected to other vertices through edges.
Trees Data Structure
A tree is a collection of vertices and edges, much like a graph. However, there can only be one edge between any two vertices in a tree data structure.Because each item in a tree is linked, it has a structure similar to a linked list. But in a tree, everything are connected in a hierarchical way, much like you might see in a picture of a person’s family tree. Trees come in a variety of varieties, each suited to a particular use.
How are data structures used?
The physical representations of abstract data types are typically implemented via data structures. Designing effective software requires careful consideration of data structures. They are essential to the design of algorithms as well as the use of those algorithms in computer applications.
Programmers could create their own data structures using early programming languages like Fortran, C, and C++. These days, a wide variety of data structures are incorporated into many programming languages to help organise code and data. For storing and retrieving data, common coding structures include Python lists and dictionaries, JavaScript arrays, and objects.
The algorithms used by software engineers are closely related to the data structures they work with, such as lists, queues, and mappings from one set of values to another. This method can be combined in a number of applications, such as managing record collections in a relational database and building an index of those records using the binary tree data structure.
Wrap Up
We have covered many data structure types in this blog. Nearly all software systems and programmes that have been created involve data structures. Data structures also fall under the umbrella of computer science and software engineering basics. When it comes to interview questions for software engineering, it is a crucial subject. So, as developers, we need to be well-versed on data structures.