In Previous Years Questions
Data Structure
A data structure organizes data items by considering both the stored elements and their relationships. It represents the logical connections between individual data elements, serving as a mathematical or logical model for data organization.
Need for Data Structure
1. Understanding Relationships: Helps comprehend the relationships between data elements for efficient manipulation.
2. Memory Organization: Facilitates the organization of data items within the memory, enhancing speed and efficiency.
Types of Data Structures
Linear Data Structure:
Definition: Elements form a sequence with unique predecessors and successors.
Examples: Arrays, linked lists, stacks, and queues.
Non-linear Data Structure
Definition: Elements do not form a sequence; no unique predecessors or successors.
Examples: Trees and graphs.
Need for Data Types
1. Memory Allocation: Different data types require different amounts of memory. Properly defining data types allows for efficient memory allocation and usage.
2. Data Integrity: Data types help ensure data integrity by specifying the type of data that can be stored in a variable or field.
3. Operations and Constraints: Data types determine the operations that can be performed on the data. For example, arithmetic operations are defined differently for integers and floating-point numbers.