Introduction to Data

Structure
Introduction to Data Structure
 Computer is an electronic machine which is used for data processing and manipulation.
 When programmer collects such type of data for processing, he would require to store all of
them in computer’s main memory.
 In order to make computer work we need to know
o Representation of data in computer.
o Accessing of data.
o How to solve problem step by step.
 For doing this task we use data structure.

What is Data Structure?

 Data structure is a representation of the logical relationship existing between individual
elements of data.
 Data Structure is a way of organizing all data items that considers not only the elements stored
but also their relationship to each other.
 We can also define data structure as a mathematical or logical model of a particular
organization of data items.
 The representation of particular data structure in the main memory of a computer is called as
storage structure.
 The storage structure representation in auxiliary memory is called as file structure.
 It is defined as the way of storing and manipulating data in organized form so that it can be
used efficiently.
 Data Structure mainly specifies the following four things
o Organization of Data
o Accessing methods
o Degree of associativity
o Processing alternatives for information
 Algorithm + Data Structure = Program
 Data structure study covers the following points
o Amount of memory require to store.
o Amount of time require to process.
o Representation of data in memory.
o Operations performed on that data.

Shitanshu Jain, CSE, GGITS

 Introduction to Data
Structure
Classification of Data Structure

DATA
STRUCTURE

PRIMITIVE NON
PRIMITIVE

INTEGER FLOATING CHARACTER POINTER ARRAY LIST FILE

POINT

LINEAR LIST NON

LINEAR LIST

STACK QUEUE GRAPH TREE

Data Structures are normally classified into two broad categories

1. Primitive Data Structure

2. Non-primitive data Structure

Data types
A particular kind of data item, as defined by the values it can take, the programming language
used, or the operations that can be performed on it.

Primitive Data Structure

 Primitive data structures are basic structures and are directly operated upon by machine instructions.
 Primitive data structures have different representations on different computers.
 Integers, floats, character and pointers are examples of primitive data structures.
 These data types are available in most programming languages as built in type.
o Integer: It is a data type which allows all values without fraction part. We can use it for whole numbers.
o Float: It is a data type which use for storing fractional numbers.
o Character: It is a data type which is used for character values.

Shitanshu Jain, CSE, GGITS

 Introduction to Data
Structure
Pointer: A variable that holds memory address of another variable are called pointer.

Non primitive Data Type

 These are more sophisticated data structures.
 These are derived from primitive data structures.
 The non-primitive data structures emphasize on structuring of a group of homogeneous or
heterogeneous data items.
 Examples of Non-primitive data type are Array, List, and File etc.
 A Non-primitive data type is further divided into Linear and Non-Linear data structure
o Array: An array is a fixed-size sequenced collection of elements of the same data type.
o List: An ordered set containing variable number of elements is called as Lists.
o File: A file is a collection of logically related information. It can be viewed as a large list of
records consisting of various fields.

Linear data structures

 A data structure is said to be Linear, if its elements are connected in linear fashion by means of
logically or in sequence memory locations.
 There are two ways to represent a linear data structure in memory,
o Static memory allocation
o Dynamic memory allocation
 The possible operations on the linear data structure are: Traversal, Insertion, Deletion, Searching,
Sorting and Merging.
 Examples of Linear Data Structure are Stack and Queue.
 Stack: Stack is a data structure in which insertion and deletion operations are performed at one end only.
o The insertion operation is referred to as ‘PUSH’ and deletion operation is referred to as ‘POP’ operation.
o Stack is also called as Last in First out (LIFO) data structure.
 Queue: The data structure which permits the insertion at one end and Deletion at another end,
known as Queue.
o End at which deletion is occurs is known as FRONT end and another end at which insertion
occurs is known as REAR end.
o Queue is also called as First in First out (FIFO) data structure.

Nonlinear data structures

 Nonlinear data structures are those data structure in which data items are not arranged in a sequence.
 Examples of Non-linear Data Structure are Tree and Graph.
 Tree: A tree can be defined as finite set of data items (nodes) in which data items are arranged in
branches and sub branches according to requirement.
o Trees represent the hierarchical relationship between various elements.
o Tree consist of nodes connected by edge, the node represented by circle and edge lives
connecting to circle.

Shitanshu Jain, CSE, GGITS

 Introduction to Data
Structure
 Graph: Graph is a collection of nodes (Information) and connecting edges (Logical relation) between nodes.
o A tree can be viewed as restricted graph.
o Graphs have many types:
 Un-directed Graph
 Directed Graph
 Mixed Graph
 Multi Graph
 Simple Graph
 Null Graph
 Weighted Graph

Difference between Linear and Non Linear Data Structure

Linear Data Structure Non-Linear Data Structure
Every item is related to its previous and next Every item is attached with many other
time. items.
Data is arranged in linear sequence. Data is not arranged in sequence.
Data items can be traversed in a single run. Data cannot be traversed in a single run.
Eg. Array, Stacks, linked list, queue. Eg. tree, graph.
Implementation is easy. Implementation is difficult.

Operation on Data Structures

Design of efficient data structure must take operations to be performed on the data structures into
account. The most commonly used operations on data structure are broadly categorized into following
types

1. Create
The create operation results in reserving memory for program elements. This can be done by
declaration statement. Creation of data structure may take place either during compile-time or run-
time. malloc() function of C language is used for creation.

2. Destroy
Destroy operation destroys memory space allocated for specified data structure. free() function of C
language is used to destroy data structure.

3. Selection
Selection operation deals with accessing a particular data within a data structure.

Shitanshu Jain, CSE, GGITS

 Introduction to Data
Structure
4. Updation
It updates or modifies the data in the data structure.

5. Searching
It finds the presence of desired data item in the list of data items, it may also find
the locations of all elements that satisfy certain conditions.

6. Sorting
Sorting is a process of arranging all data items in a data structure in a particular
order, say for example, either in ascending order or in descending order.

7. Merging
Merging is a process of combining the data items of two different sorted list into a single
sorted list.

8. Splitting
Splitting is a process of partitioning single list to multiple list.

9. Traversal
Traversal is a process of visiting each and every node of a list in systematic manner.

Shitanshu Jain, CSE, GGITS