Untitled Quiz

Study Notes

Data Structure: A way to store and organize data; facilitates access and modification of data elements.
Linear Data Structures: Data arranged sequentially, like a list.
- Arrays: Fixed-size collections of elements of the same data type.
- Linked Lists: Dynamically sized, elements linked together.
- Stacks: LIFO (Last-In, First-Out) structure - think of a stack of plates.
- Queues: FIFO (First-In, First-Out) structure - think of a line at a store.
Non-Linear Data Structures: Data Elements not ordered sequentially.
- Trees: Hierarchical structure, like a family tree.
- Graphs: Collection of nodes and edges, representing relationships between elements.
- Hash Tables: Data stored based on its hash code or key, provides fast access to data.

Abstract Data Types (ADTs): Mathematical models of data storage and operations.
- Define data organization and allowed operations.
- Focus on what is done, not how.
Data Structures: Implementations of ADTs.
- How data is physically stored and accessed.
- Concrete representation of an ADT.

Every Collection ADT should allow:
- Adding an item
- Removing an item
- Finding or accessing an item
Potential additional operations:
- Checking if the collection is empty.
- Clearing the collection.
- Retrieving a subset of the collection.

Phases:
- Analysis: Defining the problem and understanding its requirements.
- Design: Creating an algorithm (step-by-step solution) and choosing data structures.
- Implementation: Writing code to translate the design into a working program.
- Testing and Debugging: Verifying the program's correctness and fixing any errors.

Structured Design: Breaking down problems into smaller, manageable subproblems.
Structured Programming: Implementing structured designs.
Object-Oriented Design (OOD):
- Identifies objects (components) and their interactions.
- Uses principles like encapsulation (data and operations combined), inheritance (creating new types from existing ones), and polymorphism (using the same expression for different operations).