Data Structures :Data structures are ways of organizing and storing data in a computer so that it can be accessed and manipulated efficiently. Here are some key concepts of data structures:
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Arrays: Arrays are a collection of elements of the same data type that are stored in contiguous memory locations. They are widely used due to their simplicity and efficiency for accessing individual elements.
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Linked Lists: Linked lists are a data structure in which each element (node) contains a pointer to the next element. They are useful for dynamic memory allocation, and can be used to implement stacks, queues, and other data structures.
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Stacks: Stacks are a Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) data structure in which elements are added and removed from the top of the stack.
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Queues: Queues are a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) data structure in which elements are added at the rear and removed from the front of the queue.
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Trees: Trees are hierarchical data structures in which each element (node) has a parent and zero or more children. They are commonly used for searching and sorting.
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Graphs: Graphs are a collection of nodes (vertices) and edges that connect them. They are used to represent complex relationships between elements, such as networks or social relationships.
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Hash Tables: Hash tables are a data structure that uses a hash function to map keys to values. They provide fast lookup times and are widely used for data storage and retrieval.
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Heaps: Heaps are binary trees that satisfy the heap property, in which the key of each node is greater than or equal to (for a max heap) or less than or equal to (for a min heap) the keys of its children. They are used for sorting and priority queues.
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Tries: Tries are trees that store strings or sequences of elements. They are useful for searching for words or sequences of characters.
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Graph algorithms: Graph algorithms are used to solve problems on graphs, such as finding shortest paths or spanning trees.
These are just some of the key concepts of data structures. Different data structures have different strengths and weaknesses, and understanding these concepts can help you choose the right data structure for a given problem.