Data Structures Important QA
Data Structures Important QA
A data structure is a specialized format to organize, manage, and store data efficiently, enabling easy access and
modification.
It defines the relationship among data elements and the operations that can be performed on them.
Common data structures include arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, and graphs.
Choosing the right data structure improves algorithm performance and resource utilization.
An Abstract Data Type is a model for data structures that defines the data and the operations that can be performed on
it,
without specifying how these operations are implemented. It focuses on what the data does, not how it does it.
Example:
A Stack is an ADT that follows the Last In, First Out (LIFO) principle.
but how the stack is implemented (using an array or a linked list) is hidden from the user.
Time Complexity:
Time Complexity is a measure of the amount of computational time an algorithm takes to complete, based on the size of
the input.
Space Complexity:
Space Complexity refers to the total memory an algorithm uses during execution, including input storage, auxiliary
Time-Space Trade-off:
The Time-Space Trade-off is the concept where increasing memory usage can reduce computation time, and vice
versa.
Data Structures - Important Questions & Answers
Example: Using extra space to store precomputed results in memoization to save time later.
Algorithm:
An algorithm is a finite set of well-defined instructions or steps that solve a specific problem or perform a task.
It takes some input, processes it, and produces the desired output.
Characteristics:
Element Data Organization refers to how individual data elements are arranged and structured in memory so they can
Example:
Array:
Index: 0 1 2 3 4
Value: 10 20 30 40 50
Each element can be accessed directly using its index, like arr[2] = 30.
Linked List:
Elements are stored in nodes, each containing data and a pointer to the next node. They may not be in consecutive
memory.
Data Structures - Important Questions & Answers
Choosing the right organization helps optimize operations like search, insert, and delete.