Fundamental Data Structure Concepts

Basic Definitions and Core Concepts

Question 1: What is a Data Structure?

Answer: A data structure is a way of organizing and storing data in a computer so that it can be accessed
and updated efficiently1. It is a storage mechanism that combines data and all possible operations that can
be performed on that data1.

Question 2: What are the two main types of data structures?

Answer: The two main types are Linear and Non-linear data structures1. Linear data structures arrange
elements in sequence (like arrays, stacks, queues), while non-linear structures arrange elements in
hierarchical manner (like trees, graphs)1.

Question 3: Give examples of linear data structures.

Answer: Array, Stack, Queue, and Linked List are examples of linear data structures1. In these structures,
elements are arranged in a particular sequence one after another1.

Question 4: Give examples of non-linear data structures.

Answer: Trees and Graphs are examples of non-linear data structures1. In these structures, elements are
arranged in hierarchical manner where one element can be connected to multiple elements1.

Question 5: What is the difference between primitive and non-primitive data structures?
Answer: Primitive data structures are basic data types like int, float, char that cannot be divided
further1. Non-primitive data structures are complex structures built using primitive types, like arrays, linked
lists, trees1.

Data Structure Operations

Question 6: What are the basic operations performed on data structures?

Answer: The basic operations are Creation, Insertion, Deletion, Searching, Sorting, Traversing, and
Merging1. These operations help manipulate and organize data effectively1.

Question 7: What is traversing in data structures?

Answer: Traversing is the process of visiting each element in a data structure exactly once1. It is used to
check availability of elements or verify successful operations1.

Question 8: What is the difference between searching and sorting?

Answer: Searching is finding the location of an element with a given key value1. Sorting is arranging data
elements in logical order (ascending or descending)1.

Algorithm Complexity and Analysis

Time and Space Complexity

Question 9: What is time complexity?

Answer: Time complexity is the amount of time required by an algorithm to execute1. It measures how
running time changes with input size and is expressed using Big-O notation1.

Question 10: What is space complexity?

Answer: Space complexity is the amount of memory required by an algorithm to run1. It includes fixed
space (constants, variables) and variable space (depends on input size)1.
Question 11: What are the three types of time complexity analysis?
Answer: Best case (minimum time), Average case (expected time), and Worst case (maximum time)1. Worst
case analysis is most commonly used for algorithm comparison1.

Asymptotic Notations

Question 12: What is Big-O notation?

Answer: Big-O notation expresses the upper bound of an algorithm's running time1. It describes the worst-
case scenario and maximum time an algorithm can take1.

Question 13: What is Omega (Ω) notation?

Answer: Omega notation expresses the lower bound of an algorithm's running time1. It describes the best-
case scenario and minimum time an algorithm requires1.

Question 14: What is Theta (θ) notation?

Answer: Theta notation expresses both upper and lower bounds of an algorithm's running time1. It
provides tight bounds when best and worst cases are the same1.

Question 15: Arrange these complexities in order of efficiency: O(n²), O(1), O(n), O(log n)
Answer: O(1) < O(log n) < O(n) < O(n²)1. Constant time is most efficient, quadratic time is least efficient1.

Linear Data Structures

Arrays

Question 16: What is an array?

Answer: An array is a collection of elements of the same data type stored in continuous memory
locations1. Each element is accessed using an index starting from 01.

Question 17: What are the advantages of arrays?

Answer: Fast access using index, simple implementation, efficient for sequential data storage1. Elements
can be accessed in constant time O(1)1.

Stacks

Question 18: What is a stack?

Answer: A stack is a linear data structure that follows LIFO (Last In First Out) principle1. Elements are added
and removed from the same end called the top1.

Question 19: What are the basic operations of a stack?

Answer: Push (insert element at top), Pop (remove element from top), and Top/Peek (view top element
without removing)1.

Question 20: Give a real-world example of stack.

Answer: A pile of plates where you can only add or remove plates from the top1. Function calls in
programming also use stack mechanism1.

Queues

Question 21: What is a queue?

Answer: A queue is a linear data structure that follows FIFO (First In First Out) principle1. Elements are
added at rear and removed from front1.
Question 22: What are the basic operations of a queue?
Answer: Enqueue (insert element at rear), Dequeue (remove element from front), Front (view front
element), and Rear (view rear element)1.

Question 23: Give a real-world example of queue.

Answer: People standing in line at a ticket counter where first person gets served first1. Print job scheduling
also uses queue mechanism1.

Algorithm Fundamentals

Algorithm Properties

Question 24: What is an algorithm?

Answer: An algorithm is a finite set of well-defined instructions for solving a problem1. It takes input and
produces output in finite time1.

Question 25: What are the characteristics of a good algorithm?

Answer: Input and output should be clearly defined, each step should be clear and unambiguous, it should
be effective and language-independent1.

Question 26: What is the difference between algorithm and program?

Answer: An algorithm is a step-by-step procedure independent of programming language1. A program is
implementation of algorithm in specific programming language1.

Mathematical Functions

Question 27: What is factorial function?

Answer: Factorial of positive integer n (n!) is the product of all positive integers from 1 to n1. For example,
5! = 5×4×3×2×1 = 1201.

Question 28: What are floor and ceiling functions?

Answer: Floor function gives largest integer ≤ x, ceiling function gives smallest integer ≥ x1. For example,
floor(2.9) = 2, ceiling(2.1) = 31.

Advanced Concepts

Data Types

Question 29: What are the common data types in C programming?

Answer: int (integer), float (real number), char (character), and pointer1. These are basic building blocks for
complex data structures1.

Question 30: What is the difference between signed and unsigned integers?
Answer: Signed integers can store positive and negative values, unsigned integers can only store positive
values1. Unsigned integers have larger positive range1.

Efficiency and Optimization

Question 31: Why is algorithm analysis important?

Answer: Algorithm analysis helps choose the best algorithm for specific problems by comparing time and
space requirements1. It ensures efficient resource utilization1.
Question 32: What is time-space tradeoff?
Answer: Time-space tradeoff means you can often reduce execution time by using more memory, or reduce
memory usage by accepting longer execution time1.

Question 33: What are the advantages of using data structures?

Answer: Efficiency (faster operations), Reusability (can be used multiple times), and Abstraction (hides
implementation details)1.