2.1. Data structures and abstract data types

What is a data structure?

It is a format used to store, ogranise and manage data in a way that allows efficient access and modification for the needs of the program

What is an array?

a data structure for storing FINITE, ordered sets of data of the same data type within a single identifier

What is a multi- dimensional array?

an array where each data item is located using mutiple indices

What is a single dimensional array?

an array where each data item can be located using a single index

What is a binary file?

an organised collection of records where data is stored in binary

What is a field?

a single item of data

What is a record?

a data structure that stores multiple fields, organised based on attributes within a single line of a file

What is a text file?

An organised collection of records where data is stored in human readable character

What is a dictionary ?

a data structure consisting of set of keys that are mapped to their corresponding values

What is a dynamic structure?

a data structure whose memory allocation size can chance throughout the execution of the program

What is a graph?

an abstract data te

Hash Table

a data structure where a hashing algorithm create a mapping between keys and values. the data item can then be directly accessed by recalculation, without any search

Queues

a first in first out(fifo) data structure, the first item added/pushed on to the queue is the first to be removed

stacks

a last in first out (lifo) data