What Are Data Structures?

Data structures are fundamental tools in programming that organize and store data efficiently. They enable efficient data manipulation and access, forming the basis for algorithms and software design.

Common Data Structures

  • Arrays 📊
    A collection of elements stored in contiguous memory locations.

    Array

  • Linked Lists 🔗
    A linear data structure where each element (node) contains a reference to the next node.

    Linked_List

  • Stacks 📂
    A LIFO (Last In, First Out) structure used for recursion and expression evaluation.

    Stack

  • Queues ⚙️
    A FIFO (First In, First Out) structure for task scheduling and buffering.

    Queue

  • Trees 🌳
    Hierarchical structures with nodes connected by edges, used in databases and file systems.

    Tree

  • Graphs 🗺️
    Non-linear structures representing relationships between nodes, essential for social networks and pathfinding.

    Graph

Why Learn Data Structures?

Understanding data structures improves your ability to:

  • Optimize code performance 🚀
  • Solve complex problems efficiently 🧠
  • Design scalable systems 📈

Explore more about algorithms and their relationship with data structures: /learn/tutorials/algorithms