Summary of C++ Data Structures

C++ data structures are essential for organizing and storing data efficiently. This guide provides an overview of the most common data structures available in C++ and their characteristics.

Key Concepts

• Data Structures: A way of organizing, managing, and storing data for efficient access and modification.
• Abstract Data Types (ADT): A mathematical model for data types defined by their behavior from the point of view of a user, specifically the operations that can be performed on them.

Common Data Structures in C++

1. Arrays

• Definition: A collection of elements of the same type, stored in contiguous memory.
• Usage: Useful for storing fixed-size sequential data.

Example:

int numbers[5] = {1, 2, 3, 4, 5};

2. Structures

• Definition: A user-defined data type that allows the combination of data items of different kinds.
• Usage: To group related data together.

Example:

struct Student {
    int id;
    string name;
};

3. Linked Lists

• Definition: A linear collection of data elements where each element points to the next.
• Usage: Dynamic data storage where the size can change during runtime.

Example:

struct Node {
    int data;
    Node* next;
};

4. Stacks

• Definition: A collection of elements that follows the Last In First Out (LIFO) principle.
• Usage: Useful for reversing data, backtracking algorithms.

Example:

stack s;
s.push(1);
s.push(2);

5. Queues

• Definition: A collection of elements that follows the First In First Out (FIFO) principle.
• Usage: Useful for scheduling tasks, handling requests.

Example:

queue q;
q.push(1);
q.push(2);

6. Trees

• Definition: A hierarchical data structure with nodes connected by edges; each tree has a root node.
• Usage: Used in databases, file systems, and for organizing data hierarchically.

Example:

struct TreeNode {
    int value;
    TreeNode* left;
    TreeNode* right;
};

7. Graphs

• Definition: A collection of nodes (vertices) connected by edges.
• Usage: Used to represent networks, social connections, and more.

Example:

struct Graph {
    int V; // Number of vertices
    list *adj; // Adjacency list
};

Conclusion

Understanding data structures is crucial for writing efficient C++ programs. Each structure serves a different purpose and is essential for solving various problems in programming. By mastering these data structures, beginners can improve their coding skills and optimize performance.