Data Structures through C Language

Introduction to Data Structures

• Data structures are concepts of algorithms used to structure information, not a programming language.
• We implement these algorithms using programming languages like C, C++, Java, etc.
• Java has a predefined implementation called Collections Framework.

Importance of Data Storage

• Data storage is crucial for applications, especially in data science.
• Early recognition of data importance led to the development of languages like Python for faster data processing.
• Data analysis has become essential as the importance of data processing is understood.

Definition of Data Structures

• Data structures are about how to store information effectively using algorithms.
• Algorithms to manage data structures are known as Abstract Data Types (ADTs).

Examples of Data Structures

• Common data structures include:
  • Arrays
  • Stacks
  • Queues
  • Linked Lists
  • Trees
  • Graphs
• Algorithms for sorting and searching also fall under data structures.

Types of Data Structures

1. Linear Data Structures

   • Elements arranged in a sequential format.
   • Examples: Arrays, Stacks, Queues, Linked Lists.

2. Nonlinear Data Structures

   • Elements can connect to multiple other elements.
   • Examples: Trees, Graphs.

Arrays

• Definition: A data structure that holds more than one element of the same type (homogeneous).
• Properties:
  • Index-based, allowing faster access to elements.
  • Considered a derived data type.
  • Does not follow any specific algorithm.

Accessing Array Elements

• Example declaration: int A[5];.
• Memory allocation is continuous; for instance, base address 2046.
• Accessing A[3] gives the value at that index directly.
• Involves pointer arithmetic to get values efficiently.

Advantages of Arrays

• Arrays allow storing multiple elements under a single variable, simplifying data management.
• Compared to primitive variables (e.g., int a, b;), arrays simplify access patterns and reduce complexity.

Importance of C Language Concepts for Data Structures

• To implement data structures in C, understanding the following concepts is crucial:
  1. Functions
  2. Recursive Functions
  3. Arrays
  4. Structures
  5. Pointers
  6. Dynamic Memory Allocation

Next Steps

• The next session will cover implementing the stack algorithm using both static and dynamic memory allocation.
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