Data Structures Overview
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Questions and Answers

What characterizes an array in data structures?

  • It consists of elements that must be accessed sequentially.
  • It can hold items of different data types.
  • It is a sequential structure that allows random access. (correct)
  • It resembles a hierarchical structure.

Which data structure follows the LIFO principle?

  • Queue
  • Tree
  • Stack (correct)
  • Graph

In what way does a linked list differ from an array?

  • Arrays have a fixed size while linked lists can grow dynamically. (correct)
  • Arrays are always sequentially linked.
  • Linked lists allow random access to elements.
  • Linked lists can hold only one data type.

What type of structure is a tree in data structures?

<p>Hierarchical structure (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately describes a queue?

<p>It follows the First In First Out (FIFO) principle. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is contained within a graph structure in data structures?

<p>A set of edges connecting elements. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main purpose of data structures in computer science?

<p>To enhance the speed of data retrieval and storage. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about arrays is false?

<p>Arrays allow for elements of different types to be stored. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What operation is referred to when adding an element to a stack?

<p>Push (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the peek() operation do in a stack?

<p>Returns the top element without removing it (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following would indicate that a stack cannot accept any more elements?

<p>isFull() returns true (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens during a stack underflow condition?

<p>An attempt is made to remove an item from an empty stack (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which structure can NOT be used to implement a stack?

<p>Tree (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In which scenario would a stack experience overflow?

<p>When an attempt is made to push an additional item onto a full stack (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary characteristic of linear data structures?

<p>Data elements are arranged sequentially. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the pointer that represents the last pushed data on the stack?

<p>Top pointer (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following operations is NOT a basic stack operation?

<p>Shift (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT an example of a non-linear data structure?

<p>Queue (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What data structure is commonly used to implement an 'undo' mechanism in text editors?

<p>Stack (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which operation is used to combine the data items of two sorted files into a single sorted file?

<p>Merging (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In terms of computer memory efficiency, which type of data structure is more efficient?

<p>Non-linear data structure (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is a typical use of arrays in data structures?

<p>Searching for a specified target value (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which operation is specifically defined as accessing each data item exactly once?

<p>Traversing (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What data structure is effectively used in operating systems to maintain a disk's file system?

<p>Graph (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the time complexity of an algorithm typically measured in?

<p>The number of steps taken (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does Big O notation aid in algorithm analysis?

<p>It compares efficiency based on runtime growth (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What would be an example of a time-memory tradeoff?

<p>Utilizing more memory to reduce computation time (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In C, how is the length of a string determined?

<p>By counting all characters including the null character (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What part of an algorithm does time complexity refer to?

<p>The time required to run the algorithm (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'S(P) = 1 + 3' indicate in the provided algorithm?

<p>One constant and three variables are used (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the null character ' ' indicate in a C string?

<p>The termination of the string (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why might someone prefer to solve a problem using more memory?

<p>To save time in processing calculations (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What should a new node's next pointer point to when inserted between two nodes A and C?

<p>RightNode (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the first step in the deletion operation of a node in a linked list?

<p>Locate the target node to be removed. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does a header linked list manage the count of nodes?

<p>By using a special node at the beginning. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a doubly linked list compared to a singly linked list?

<p>It allows forward and backward navigation. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of a linked list, what does the term 'sequential search' refer to?

<p>Searching for a node by comparing each node's value. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What action should be taken after the previous node points to the next node of the target node during deletion?

<p>Point the target node's next to NULL. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a situation where a new node is inserted at the end of a linked list?

<p>The last node must connect to the new node. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of the current pointer in a linked list search algorithm?

<p>To compare with the key value on each iteration. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary data structure used in Depth First Search (DFS)?

<p>Stack (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which step is NOT part of the DFS implementation process?

<p>Insert vertices into a Queue (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does a spanning tree produced by graph traversal represent?

<p>A graph without loops (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What technique does Backtracking refer to in the context of graph traversal?

<p>Returning to the previous vertex (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the main purpose of Breadth First Search (BFS)?

<p>To explore all vertices level by level (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the required action when a vertex at the front of the queue has no new adjacent vertices to visit in BFS?

<p>Delete that vertex from the graph (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement accurately characterizes the differences between DFS and BFS?

<p>BFS uses a queue, while DFS uses a stack (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What must be ensured to avoid loops during graph traversal?

<p>The traversal must track which vertices have been visited (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Data Structure

A particular way to organize data in a computer to use it efficiently.

Array

A fixed-size structure holding items of the same type, accessed randomly.

Linked List

A sequential structure with items connected, accessed sequentially.

Stack

A LIFO (Last-In, First-Out) structure, like a stack of plates.

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Queue

A FIFO (First-In, First-Out) structure, like a queue of people.

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Tree

A hierarchical structure where data is organized in levels, different from a list.

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Graph

A structure of vertices (nodes) connected by edges.

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Data

Elementary values like a student's name and roll number.

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Linear Data Structure

A data structure where data elements are arranged sequentially, each element connected to its previous and next adjacent element.

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Non-Linear Data Structure

A data structure where data elements are not arranged sequentially; elements aren't necessarily directly connected.

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Data Structure Traversal

Accessing each data item exactly once for processing.

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Data Structure Searching

Finding the location of a specific data item within a collection.

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Data Structure Insertion

Adding a new data item to a collection.

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Data Structure Deletion

Removing an existing data item from a collection.

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Data Structure Sorting

Arranging data items in a specific order (ascending or descending).

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Data Structure Merging

Combining sorted data from multiple sources into one sorted collection.

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Algorithm

A set of instructions to solve a problem in steps, like a recipe.

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Space Complexity

The amount of memory needed by an algorithm to run, measured as a function of the input size.

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Time Complexity

How long an algorithm takes to run, measured as a function of the input size.

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Time-Memory Tradeoff

The idea of using more memory to solve a problem faster, or using less memory to solve it slower.

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Big O Notation

A way to describe how fast (or slow) an algorithm's runtime grows as the input size increases.

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String

A sequence of characters, often represented as an array with a special termination character.

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Null Character

A special character '\0' that marks the end of a string in C.

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Inserting a Node in a Linked List

Adding a new node to a linked list by connecting it between existing nodes or at the beginning/end.

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Inserting a Node in the Middle

Placing a new node between two existing nodes in a linked list, updating pointers to maintain connectivity.

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Inserting a Node at the Beginning

Adding a new node as the first element in a linked list, adjusting the head pointer.

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Inserting a Node at the End

Appending a new node to the end of a linked list, updating the last node's pointer.

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Deleting a Node from a Linked List

Removing a specific node from a linked list by updating pointers to bypass the deleted node.

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Sequential Search in Linked Lists

A search method where you traverse a linked list from the beginning, comparing each node's data to the target value until a match is found or the end of the list is reached.

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Header Linked List

A linked list with a special node at the beginning, called the header, containing the number of nodes in the list, making size determination faster.

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Two-Way Linked List (Doubly Linked List)

A linked list where nodes have pointers to both the previous and next nodes, allowing traversal in both directions.

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Stack Data Structure

A data structure that follows the Last-In, First-Out (LIFO) principle. Imagine a stack of plates where the last plate added is the first one removed.

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PUSH Operation

Adding an element to the top of a stack. This is like placing a new plate on top of the stack.

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POP Operation

Removing an element from the top of a stack. This is like taking the top plate off the stack.

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Stack Underflow

Trying to remove (pop) an element from an empty stack, causing an error.

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Stack Overflow

Trying to add (push) an element to a full stack, exceeding its capacity.

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Peek Operation

Retrieving the value of the top element of a stack without removing it.

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isEmpty() Function

Checks if a stack is empty (has no elements) - returns True if empty, False otherwise.

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isFull() Function

Checks if a stack is full (cannot accommodate more elements) - returns True if full, False otherwise.

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Graph Traversal

A technique for systematically visiting all vertices in a graph without creating loops.

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Depth First Search (DFS)

A graph traversal technique that explores as deeply as possible along a branch before backtracking to the next adjacent vertex. It uses a stack data structure.

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Spanning Tree

A subgraph that includes all vertices of the original graph, but without any cycles or loops.

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BFS (Breadth First Search)

A graph traversal technique that explores all vertices at a particular depth level before moving to the next level. It uses a queue data structure.

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Queue Data Structure

A data structure that follows the FIFO (First-In, First-Out) principle, like a queue of people.

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Backtracking

In DFS, returning to a previously visited vertex to explore other paths.

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Study Notes

Data Structures

  • Data structure is a particular way to organize data in a computer so it can be used effectively.
  • Data structures are crucial in computer science for efficient handling of data in algorithms and software programs.

Examples of Data Structures

  • Arrays: Fixed-size structures holding items of the same data type (integers, floats, strings, etc.). Random access is possible.
  • Linked Lists: Sequential structures where items are linked to each other. Data access is sequential only, and random access is not possible.

Other Data Structures

  • Stacks: LIFO (Last-In, First-Out) structures, like a stack of plates. Elements are added and removed from the top.
  • Queues: FIFO (First-In, First-Out) structures, like a line of people waiting in a queue. Elements are added to the rear and removed from the front.
  • Trees: Hierarchical structures where data is organized in a parent-child relationship.
  • Graphs: Structures made of vertices (nodes) and edges connecting them, allowing for complex relationships between elements.

Elementary Data Organization

  • Data: An elementary value (e.g., student’s name, roll number).
  • Group Items: Data items with subordinate data items (e.g., a student's full name combining first and last names).
  • Records: Collections of data items. (e.g., a student's name, address, course, and marks).
  • Files: Collections of records. (example 60 employee records in a bank).
  • Entities: a person, place, thing, event, or concept about which information is stored. (e.g. employees in a bank).

Data Structures vs Data Types

  • Data Type: Describes pieces of data that share a common property (e.g., integer, character).
  • Data Structure: A way to organize data to more easily apply operations and algorithms (e.g., tree, array).

Categories of Data Structures

  • Primitive Data Structures: Data structures supported at the machine level (e.g., int, float, char, boolean).
  • Non-primitive Data Structures: Data structures derived from primitive data structures (e.g., Arrays, Linked Lists, Stacks, Queues, Trees, Graphs).
    • Linear: Data elements are arranged sequentially (e.g., arrays, stacks, queues, linked lists).
    • Non-linear: Data elements are not arranged sequentially (e.g., trees, graphs).

Data Structure Operations

  • Traversing: Accessing each data item exactly once.
  • Searching: Finding the location of a specific data item.
  • Inserting: Adding a new data item.
  • Deleting: Removing an existing data item.
  • Sorting: Arranging data items in a particular order (ascending, descending, or alphabetical).
  • Merging: Combining two sorted files into a single sorted file.

Applications of Data Structures

  • Searching and finding data: Efficiently locating specific data (e.g., minimum, maximum, average, mean, etc).
  • Undo in Text Editors: Stacks can keep track of edits for undo.
  • Job Scheduling and Disk Scheduling: Queues manage tasks and operations.
  • Symbol Tables: Linked Lists and Symbol Tables maintain a consistent format when managing parenthesis balance.
  • File Systems: Representing file folders as hierarchical tree structures.
  • Shortest Path Algorithms: Graphs are used for path calculation in Navigation systems, (maps, GPS)

Algorithms

  • An algorithm is a step-by-step procedure defining instructions that are performed in a certain order to get the desired result.
  • Characteristics of algorithms:
    • Unambiguous: Clear and unambiguous instructions that lead to one meaning.
    • Input: Zero or more well-defined inputs.
    • Output: One or more well-defined outputs that match the expected output.
    • Finiteness: Terminates after a finite number of steps.
    • Feasibility: Should be feasible with available resources.
    • Independence: Instructions are independent of programming code.

Algorithm Complexity

  • Time Factor: Measure of execution time by counting key operations.
  • Space Factor: Measure of memory space required by the algorithm.
  • The complexity of an algorithm (f(n)) describes running time (and/or storage) in terms of the size of input data (n).
  • Space Complexity: Amount of memory space an algorithm needs during its execution. (fixed portion/variable portion)

Big O Notation

  • Big O notation is used to describe the time complexity of an algorithm in terms of input size.
  • It expresses how quickly an algorithm's runtime grows as the input gets larger.

String Operations

  • strlen(): Computes a string's length.
  • strcpy(): Copies a string to another string.
  • strcat(): Concatenates two strings.
  • strcmp(): Compares two strings.
  • strlwr(): Converts a string to lowercase.
  • strupr(): Converts a string to uppercase.

Multi-dimensional Arrays

  • 2D Arrays: Arrays with two dimensions (rows and columns).
  • 3D Arrays: Arrays with three or more dimensions

Parallel Arrays

  • Several arrays of the same size, where elements in corresponding positions are related.

Sparse Matrices

  • Matrices with significantly more zero elements than non-zero elements, making them inefficient if stored as full 2D arrays.
  • Optimized storage representations, like Triplet Representation (arrays), exist to reduce storage space.

Linked Lists

  • Data structures in which data elements are not stored together. Data access is sequential.

Array vs. Linked Lists

  • Arrays: Efficient for random access, but less flexible when inserting or deleting.
  • Linked Lists: Efficient for insertion and deletion, but less time-efficient for random access.

Memory Representation of Queues

  • Using contiguous memory (like arrays): Data stored in a fixed-size array with FRONT and REAR pointers to track the front and rear of the queue.
  • Using non-contiguous memory (like a linked list): Data stored in nodes linked together using pointers, making the queue size dynamic.

Circular Queue

  • A queue where the last element points to the first.

Priority Queue

  • Extension of a queue where each item has a priority, and higher-priority items are served before lower-priority ones.

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Description

This quiz covers the fundamental concepts of data structures, including arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, and graphs. Understanding these structures is essential for effective data organization and algorithm implementation in computer science.

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