In this article, I would like to introduce the Data Structures for a beginner's guide

Table of content

• Introduce
• What are data structures?
• Why are data structures important?
• What are data structures used for?
• Classification of data structure
• Conclusion

Introduce

Data structure is compile two words Data and Structure.

• Data is information that must be processed and stored in a computer
• Structure refers to how data is structured

What are data structures?

Data structure is a way to organize, store, and manipulate data in a computer's memory or disk. Especially, when working with large volumes of data.

Data structure makes it easier to perform various operations like insertion, deletion, searching, and sorting.

Why are data structures important?

Data structure and algorithms are the core of any program. Avoid wasting time and memory complex when having a well-organized data structure.

The data structure is very essential and can offer many benefits.

• Efficient data management: can provide efficient methods for adding, deleting, and modifying data
• Data organization: easier to access and manipulate data
• Reusability: Saving time and effort because data structure can be used in other applications
• Data security: provide additional security features, such as data encryption and protection against unauthorized access

What are data structures used for?

Data structure common uses include:

• Bioinformatics and Computational Biology: for representing and analyzing biological data.
• Embedded System and IoT: for managing sensor data, and communication buffers.
• Web development: for managing session data, caching, and handle request/response.
• Graphics and Game Development
• AI and ML: representing and processing data.
• Networking and Communication: to represent and process data packets efficiently.
• Operating System: to manage system resources: files, devices, ...
• Database System

Classification of data structure

There are two main categories:

• Linear data structure: These data structures are organized in a linear or sequential manner
• Array: A collection of elements of the same type stored in contiguous memory locations.
• Linked List: A collection of elements linked together by pointers, allowing for dynamic insertion and deletion.
• Queue: A First-In-First-Out (FIFO) structure where elements are added at the end and removed from the beginning.
• Stack: A Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) structure where elements are added and removed from the top.
• Non-linear data structure: These data structures are not organized in a sequential or linear manner
• Tree: A hierarchical structure where each node can have multiple child nodes.
• Graph: A collection of nodes connected by edges, representing relationships between data elements.
• Hash Table: A data structure that uses a hash function to map keys to values, allowing for fast lookup and insertion.

Conclusion

After reading this, I hope you can understand basic knowledge about Data Structure.

Furthermore, Data structures are the backbone of all programmable systems that handle the problem of data storage.

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