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Basics of DSA for beginners

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43 views2 pages

DSA Basics Upload

Basics of DSA for beginners

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tpk.kalkar123
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Data Structures and Algorithms (DSA) are fundamental concepts in computer science that help

in solving problems efficiently. Here's a breakdown of the basics:

1. Data Structures

Data structures are ways to store and organize data so that it can be accessed and modified
efficiently.

● Array: A collection of elements identified by index. It is a simple data structure that


stores elements in a contiguous memory location.
● Linked List: A linear data structure where elements are stored in nodes. Each node
contains data and a reference (link) to the next node in the sequence.
● Stack: A linear data structure that follows the Last In First Out (LIFO) principle.
Operations are performed at one end, called the top.
● Queue: A linear data structure that follows the First In First Out (FIFO) principle.
Operations are performed at both ends (enqueue at the rear and dequeue at the front).
● Tree: A hierarchical data structure with a root node and child nodes. The most common
type is the binary tree, where each node has at most two children.
● Graph: A collection of nodes (vertices) and edges connecting them. Graphs can be
directed or undirected and are useful in representing networks.
● Hash Table: A data structure that maps keys to values for efficient lookup. It uses a
hash function to compute an index into an array of buckets, where the value is stored.

2. Algorithms

Algorithms are step-by-step procedures or formulas for solving problems.

● Sorting Algorithms: Algorithms that arrange the elements of a list in a specific order
(e.g., ascending or descending).
○ Bubble Sort: A simple sorting algorithm that repeatedly steps through the list,
compares adjacent elements, and swaps them if they are in the wrong order.
○ Selection Sort: A sorting algorithm that selects the smallest (or largest) element
from the unsorted portion and places it at the correct position.
○ Merge Sort: A divide-and-conquer algorithm that divides the list into smaller
sublists, sorts them, and then merges them back together.
○ Quick Sort: Another divide-and-conquer algorithm that picks a pivot element and
partitions the array around the pivot.
● Searching Algorithms: Algorithms that find the position of an element in a list.
○ Linear Search: A simple search algorithm that checks each element sequentially
until the desired element is found.
○ Binary Search: An efficient search algorithm that works on sorted arrays by
repeatedly dividing the search interval in half.
● Dynamic Programming: A method for solving complex problems by breaking them
down into simpler subproblems and storing the results of solved subproblems to avoid
redundant calculations.
● Greedy Algorithms: Algorithms that make locally optimal choices at each step with the
hope of finding a global optimum.
● Backtracking: A recursive algorithm for solving constraint satisfaction problems by
trying out possible solutions and undoing them if they don't work.
● Graph Algorithms:
○ Depth-First Search (DFS): An algorithm that explores a graph by going as deep
as possible along each branch before backtracking.
○ Breadth-First Search (BFS): An algorithm that explores a graph by visiting all
neighbors of a node before moving on to the next level.

3. Complexity Analysis

Understanding the time and space complexity of algorithms is crucial for evaluating their
efficiency.

● Big O Notation: A mathematical notation used to describe the upper bound of an


algorithm's runtime or space requirements. It helps in comparing the efficiency of
different algorithms.

4. Recursion

Recursion is a technique where a function calls itself to solve smaller instances of the problem.
It is often used in problems that can be broken down into smaller subproblems, such as tree
traversal and backtracking.

5. Applications

● Searching and sorting data (e.g., databases, files).


● Optimization problems (e.g., finding the shortest path in a graph).
● Memory management (e.g., managing a stack for function calls).
● Game development (e.g., implementing AI in games using algorithms like Minimax).

Understanding DSA is essential for solving complex problems efficiently and is a key part of
competitive programming and technical interviews.

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