What is a Data Structure Explain its need?

Answer 1

In computer science, a data structure is a way of storing data in a computer so that it can

be used efficiently. Often a carefully chosen data structure will allow the most efficient

algorithm to be used. The choice of the data structure often begins from the choice of an

abstract data type. A well-designed data structure allows a variety of critical operations to

be performed, using as few resources, both execution time and memory space, as

possible. Data structures are implemented using the data types, references and operations

on them provided by a programming language .

Different kinds of data structures are suited to different kinds of applications, and some

are highly specialized to certain tasks. For example, B-trees are particularly well-suited

for implementation of databases, while routing tables rely on networks of machines to

function.

Common data structures:

Array

Stacks

Queues

Linked lists

Trees

Graphs

A data structure is a specialized format for organizing and storing data. General data

structure types include the array, the file, the record, the table, the tree, and so on. Any

data structure is designed to organize data to suit a specific purpose so that it can be

accessed and worked with in appropriate ways. In computer programming, a data

structure may be selected or designed to store data for the purpose of working on it with

various algorithms.

Different kinds of data structures are suited to different kinds of applications, and some

are highly specialized to certain tasks. For example, B-trees are particularly well-suited

for implementation of databases, while networks of machines rely on routing tables to

function.

In the design of many types of computer program, the choice of data structures is a

primary design consideration. Experience in building large systems has shown that the

difficulty of implementation and the quality and performance of the final result depends

heavily on choosing the best data structure. After the data structures are chosen, the

algorithms to be used often become relatively obvious. Sometimes things work in the

opposite direction --- data structures are chosen because certain key tasks have algorithms

that work best with particular data structures. In either case, the choice of appropriate

data structures is crucial.

Answer 2

With due respect, I think you've ben talking to someone who's been trying to bamboozel you, as you have asked a somewhat meaninglessly framed question.

If you've heard this from a 'consultant' I would find a better consultant if I were you.

If it's from a colleague or member of your staff, I'd send them on a course in plain English.

If you read it then throw away the book.

Data Structure is not a field of knowledge like Music, it is a noun and should be proeceeded by an 'a', as in 'a data structure'. You can also 'structure data' I guess too, but that's not as good as 'organising' it:) Framed correctly like this 'a data structure' is a formal way of storing some data which provides an easy or reliable way to get hold of it again.

In programming languages there might be formal in-built data structures such as arrays, hashes (associative arrays) and certain sorts of objects. And there might be 'hand-rolled' data structures used for particular purposes, such as 'b-trees'. Databases also contain data structures in the forms of tables, and also as keys and indexes. Each of these different data structures has a particular form and purpose. Each was designed to do a specific thing and may be highly optimised for that purpose (like b-trees and database indexes are).

I hope you can see that it is an inversion to talk about the 'needs' of a data structure: there might be a need for a data structure, but it just plan wierd to talk about one 'needing' anything, unless of course it's some data and a structure with which to organise itself.

Data Structures do have rules though, but that is inherent in them being 'structures' in the first place - a structure being nothing more than a formal way of organising something (often called a 'syntax'). The syntax rules of the English language dictate that I should say "the blue door" rather than "the door blue"; that sentence is a data structure and according to the rules of English syntax only the frst example is valid. Analagously, computer-related data structures have syntaxes (formal way of being organised) too - making them well-formed and valid, or mal-formed and invalid.