What Are Data Structures? The Most Common Ways to Organize Data
Have you ever asked yourself:
What are the most common ways to organize data, or what we call “Data Structures”? 🤔
Let’s start by understanding what data structures actually mean, then explore the most popular types used in programming.
What Are Data Structures?
A data structure is a method used to organize and store data in a way that makes it easier to access, modify, and manage efficiently.
Simply put, data structures are like a magic wand 🪄 — they make handling data smoother, faster, and more organized.
Most Common Data Structures
1. Array
An Array is used to store similar types of data in a collection.
- Data is stored in RAM
- The array has a fixed size
- Elements are stored sequentially in memory
Arrays are simple and fast when accessing elements using an index, but resizing them can be costly.
2. Linked List
A Linked List is a collection of connected records (nodes).
Each node consists of two parts:
- Data: the actual value
- Pointer: a reference to the address of the next node
Advantages:
- Easy insertion and deletion of elements
Disadvantages:
- Requires more memory compared to arrays due to pointers
3. Stack
A Stack organizes data in layers.
It follows the principle:
Last In, First Out (LIFO)
- The last element added is the first one removed
- You can only access the top element
A common example is a stack of plates — you can’t remove a plate from the bottom without removing the ones above it.
4. Queue
A Queue organizes elements based on a specific order.
- Adding an element is called Enqueue
- Removing an element is called Dequeue
It follows the principle:
First In, First Out (FIFO)
This is similar to a real-life queue — the first person to enter is the first to leave.
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right data structure can make a huge difference in:
- Performance
- Memory usage
- Code efficiency
Understanding data structures is a core skill for every programmer and a foundation for learning algorithms.