A data structure is a way to organize and store data to perform operations efficiently. The key types are:
1. Linear Data Structures:
Arrays: Fixed-size, fast access by index.
Linked Lists: Dynamic size, nodes linked together.
Stacks: LIFO (Last In, First Out), operations like push and pop.
Queues: FIFO (First In, First Out), operations like enqueue and dequeue.
2. Non-linear Data Structures:
Trees: Hierarchical structure, e.g., Binary Search Trees (BST), for fast searching.
Graphs: Consists of vertices connected by edges, used for complex relationships.
3. Hash-based:
Hash Tables: Stores data in key-value pairs for efficient searching and insertion.
Operations on data structures include traversal, insertion, deletion, searching, and sorting. The efficiency of these operations varies, and choosing the right data structure depends on the specific use case and performance needs.
