What Are Data Structures?

A data structure is a specialized structure for organizing, processing, retrieving, and storing data efficiently. It defines a way to arrange and access data elements in a computer's memory. Different data structures are suited for different kinds of operations and data types. We can find real-life examples of data structures as well. Some are listed below. Don't worry if these terms are new. The purpose here is to show you the important role data structures play in programming.

Real life examples of data structures

Let's look at some real life examples of data structures:

• IP addresses in a router’s lookup table: Routers store IP addresses using a tree structure for quick access and efficient routing. Imagine how painfully slow the user experience would be if the packets' IP address look ups couldn't keep pace.

• Dictionary-like lookups: Data in large databases is usually stored in a dictionary data structure that enables fast retrieval based on key-value pairsThis is similar to human language dictionaries that we use in our daily lives. The key would be the word we want to look up, and the value would be the definition of that word. Another example is a phone directory, where the name is the key and the phone number is the value..

• Function call information in running programs: Function call-related information is managed using stack data structure which keeps track of the most recent function calls in a last in first out manner allowing for proper function call sequencing and return. It ensures that when a function completes execution, its calling function should resume execution.