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What Is Sparse Matrix in Data Structure

A sparse matrix is a matrix with mostly zero values, where non-zero elements are stored efficiently using triples of row, column, and value. Sparse matrices can be represented using arrays or linked lists to store only the non-zero elements to save memory and computing time compared to regular matrices.

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39 views

What Is Sparse Matrix in Data Structure

A sparse matrix is a matrix with mostly zero values, where non-zero elements are stored efficiently using triples of row, column, and value. Sparse matrices can be represented using arrays or linked lists to store only the non-zero elements to save memory and computing time compared to regular matrices.

Uploaded by

tilaksondagar411
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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what is sparse matrix in data structure?

A matrix is a two-dimensional data object made of m rows and n columns,


therefore having total m x n values. If most of the elements of the matrix have 0
value, then it is called a sparse matrix.

Why to use Sparse Matrix instead of simple matrix ?


 Storage: There are lesser non-zero elements than zeros and thus lesser
memory can be used to store only those elements.
 Computing time: Computing time can be saved by logically designing a
data structure traversing only non-zero elements..

Example:
0 0 3 0 4
0 0 5 7 0
0 0 0 0 0
0 2 6 0 0

Representing a sparse matrix by a 2D array leads to wastage of lots of memory


as zeroes in the matrix are of no use in most of the cases. So, instead of storing
zeroes with non-zero elements, we only store non-zero elements. This means
storing non-zero elements with triples- (Row, Column, value).

Sparse Matrix Representations can be done in many ways following are two
common representations:
1. Array representation
2. Linked list representation
Method 1: Using Arrays:
2D array is used to represent a sparse matrix in which there are three rows
named as
 Row: Index of row, where non-zero element is located
 Column: Index of column, where non-zero element is located
 Value: Value of the non zero element located at index – (row,column)
Method 2: Using Linked Lists
In linked list, each node has four fields. These four fields are defined as:
 Row: Index of row, where non-zero element is located
 Column: Index of column, where non-zero element is located
 Value: Value of the non zero element located at index – (row,column)
 Next node: Address of the next node

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