Introduction to Data Structure

The name "Data Structure" is a combination of two words: "Data" and "Structure".
Let's go over each word individually:
• Data: Data is information that must be processed and stored in a computer.
Data can be anything from numbers to characters to dates to photos to
videos.
• Structure: Structure refers to how data is structured. It specifies the
relationship between various data elements and how they are kept in
memory. The structure has an impact on the efficiency of data operations.

A data structure is a systematic way of storing and managing data in a computer so

that it can be retrieved and used efficiently.
What is Data Structure?
A data structure is a method of organizing and storing data on a computer for it to
be retrieved and used efficiently. The desire to manage massive volumes of data
effectively leads to the need for data structures. This can be achieved by
structuring data in a way that makes operations like search, insertion, and deletion
easier. Data structures give a framework for organizing and manipulating data,
making information management and analysis easier. They also enable the
development of efficient data-processing algorithms, allowing difficult issues to be
solved in a reasonable amount of time.
 What is the need for Data Structure?
We need data structures because they provide efficient solutions for organizing
and manipulating data. They help to store and retrieve data in an organized
manner, making it easier to manage and analyze the information. Some specific
reasons why data structures are important include:
1. Improved Time Complexity: Using appropriate data structures can lead to
better time complexity, making it possible to solve problems more quickly.
For example, searching for an element in a sorted array is faster than
searching for it in an unsorted array.
2. Better Space Complexity: Data structures can help to reduce the amount of
memory needed to store data. For example, using a linked list instead of an
array can reduce the amount of memory needed to store the same data.
3. Efficient Data Retrieval: Data structures make it easier to retrieve specific
data efficiently. For example, a hash table can retrieve data in constant time,
while searching through an unsorted array takes linear time.
4. Better Data Management: Data structures make it easier to manage and
manipulate data. For example, a stack can be used to implement an undo
functionality in an application.
5. Solving Complex Problems: Data structures can provide the foundation for
efficient algorithms, making it possible to solve complex problems in a
reasonable amount of time. For example, graph algorithms can be used to
find the shortest path between two points or to find the minimum spanning
tree of a graph.
 Characteristics of Data Structure
The following are some of the main characteristics of data structures:
1. Representation of Data: Data structures define a way of representing data in
a computer's memory, making it possible to store, manipulate, and access
data efficiently.
2. Access Techniques: Different data structures provide different techniques for
accessing data stored within them, such as random access or sequential
access.
3. Storage Organization: Data structures define the organization of data in
memory, such as linear or hierarchical organization.
4. Insertion and Deletion Operations: Different data structures support
different methods for adding and removing elements, such as insertion at the
end or deletion from the front.
5. Time and Space Complexity: Data structures can have different time and
space complexities, depending on the operations they support and the way
they organize data.
6. Adaptability: Some data structures are more adaptable to certain types of
data and operations than others. For example, a stack is more suitable for
problems that require Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) behavior, while a queue is
better suited for problems that require First-In-First-Out (FIFO) behavior.
7. Flexibility: Different data structures have different degrees of flexibility, such
as the ability to dynamically grow or shrink in size, or the ability to efficiently
insert or delete elements in the middle.
 Advantages of Data Structure
The following are some of the main advantages of using data structures:
1. Better Data Organization: Data structures provide a way of organizing data in
a meaningful and efficient manner, making it easier to access and manipulate
data.
2. Increased Data Retrieval Efficiency: Data structures can provide fast and
efficient retrieval of data, which is essential in many real-world applications.
3. Efficient Data Manipulation: Data structures can provide efficient methods
for adding, deleting, and modifying data, which is important in dynamic
applications.
4. Improved Code Reusability: Reusable data structures can be used in many
different applications, reducing the time and effort required to write and
maintain code.
5. Better Problem-Solving Capability: Data structures provide a way of
modeling real-world problems and solving them in a more efficient and
elegant manner.
6. Reduced Memory Requirements: Data structures can be designed to use
memory more efficiently, reducing the overall memory requirements of an
application.
7. Increased Data Security: Data structures can be designed to provide
additional security features, such as data encryption and protection against
unauthorized access.
 Disadvantages of Data Structure
1. Increased Complexity
Data structures often add complexity to the code. Understanding and
implementing structures like trees, graphs, or heaps can be challenging for
beginners.
Example:
Implementing a Binary Search Tree (BST) requires knowledge of recursion and
pointers, which may not be easy for all.
2. Higher Memory Usage
Some data structures require extra memory for pointers, links, or overhead.
Example:
A Linked List uses more memory than an array because each node stores a data
field and a pointer to the next node.

3. Overhead in Maintenance
Maintaining complex data structures involves careful memory management and
error handling.
Example:
In a Graph, ensuring correct connections, preventing loops or duplicates, and
updating nodes can be tedious.

4. Improper Use Leads to Inefficiency

Using an inappropriate data structure can lead to poor performance and wasted
resources.
Example:
Using an Array when frequent insertion/deletion is required can result in high time
complexity (O(n)).
5. Debugging Difficulty
Debugging errors in advanced data structures (like trees or hash tables) can be
difficult due to complex internal relationships.
Example:
A bug in a Red-Black Tree balancing operation might not be easily visible and can
crash the program or lead to incorrect results.

6. Learning Curve
Explanation:
For new programmers, understanding how to choose and implement the correct
data structure takes time and practice.

Types of Data Structure

A data structure is a way of organizing, storing, and manipulating data in a
computer so that it can be efficiently used and retrieved. Data structures can be
classified into two categories: Primitive and Non-Primitive.
Primitive Data Structures
These are the most basic and fundamental data structures, such as integers, floats,
and Booleans, that are directly built into a programming language. They have a
clear and straightforward representation and are functionally constrained.

Non-Primitive Data Structures

These are more advanced and complex data structures that are built using
primitive data structures. Arrays, linked lists, trees, graphs, and hash tables are
some examples. They offer more advanced functionality and allow us to
use efficient storage and manipulation of large volumes of data. They are used to
handle complex problems that primitive data structures alone cannot solve.
Non-Primitive Data Structures can be divided into two categories:
1) Linear Data Structures: These data structures are organized in a linear or
sequential manner. Examples include Array, Linked List, Queue, Stack
2) Non-Linear Data Structures: These data structures are not organized in a
sequential or linear manner. Examples include Trees and Graphs

Types of Linear Data Structures

Arrays
An Array is a collection of elements of the same data type stored in contiguous
memory locations. It is a linear data structure that provides efficient access to its
elements based on their indices. Each element in an array is referred to by its
index, which is an integer that starts from 0. The elements are stored in a
contiguous block of memory, which allows for fast access to elements based on
their indices.
Arrays can be used to store a variety of data types, including numbers, strings, and
objects. Arrays can have a single dimension (also called a one-dimensional array) or
multiple dimensions (e.g. two-dimensional arrays, three-dimensional arrays, etc.).

Arrays are widely used in programming to store and manipulate data. They are
used as building blocks for more complex data structures and are used in a variety
of algorithms and applications.
Array data structures have many applications, including:
1. Storing collections of data, such as lists of items or numbers
2. Implementing mathematical objects such as matrices and vectors
3. Implementing dynamic data structures such as stacks, queues, and hash
tables
4. Implementing tables, databases, and look-up tables
5. Implementing trees and graphs
6. Image processing and computer graphics
7. Representing strings and text data
8. Performing numerical computations and simulations.
Linked List
A linked list is a data structure consisting of a sequence of nodes, where each node
holds data and a reference (link) to the next node in the sequence. The reference is
stored in a field called "next". The last node in the list contains a null reference
indicating the end of the list.

There are two main types of linked lists: singly linked lists and doubly linked lists.
In a singly linked list, each node only has a reference to the next node in the list,
while in a doubly linked list, each node has a reference to both the next node and
the previous node.
A linked list has the following advantages over an array:
1. Dynamic size: Linked lists can grow or shrink in size during execution of a
program, while the size of an array needs to be fixed when it is declared.
2. Ease of insertion and deletion: Inserting or deleting an element in a linked
list is easier compared to arrays, as elements in linked lists do not need to be
shifted.
3. No wastage of space: In arrays, unused space is wasted, while in linked lists,
space is used only as needed.
Queue
A queue is a type of linear data structure that operates on the First in First Out
(FIFO) principle. That is, the first item put into the queue will be the first to be
removed. The last item added to the queue will be removed at last.

A queue performs two important tasks:

• Enqueue: Adds an item to the queue's end. (Rear or Tail)
• Dequeue: The act of removing an item from the front of a queue. (Front or
Head)
An array or a linked list can be used to implement a queue. The implementation
used is determined by the specific use case and needs.
Stack
A stack is a linear data structure that follows the Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) principle. It
means the last element added to the stack will be the first one to be removed.

A stack can be thought of as a list or a collection of elements, where elements can

only be added or removed from the top of the stack. The top of the stack is the
element that was added most recently, and the bottom of the stack is the element
that was added first in the stack.
Examples of real-life stack:
• Stack of plates or books, where you can only remove the top plate or book.
• The back button on a web browser, where you can only go back to the
previously visited page.
In computer science, a stack can be implemented using an array or linked list data
structure. Some of the common operations performed on a stack include push
(add an element to the top of the stack), pop (remove the top element from the
stack), and peek (return the top element of the stack without removing it).
 Non-Linear Data Structures
Tree Data Structure
A tree is a non-linear and hierarchical data structure where the elements are
arranged in a tree-like structure. In a tree, the topmost node is called the root
node. Each node contains some data, and data can be of any type. It consists of a
central node, structural nodes, and sub-nodes which are connected via edges.
Different tree data structures allow quicker and easier access to the data as it is a
non-linear data structure.

Graph Data Structure

A graph is a non-linear data structure that consists of vertices (or nodes) and
edges. It consists of a finite set of vertices and a set of edges that connect a pair of
nodes. The graph is used to solve the most challenging and complex programming
problems. It has different terminologies which are Path, Degree, Adjacent vertices,
Connected components, etc.