Flashcards on Data Structures: Arrays and Linked Lists
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What is an array?
An array is a data structure that stores a fixed-size sequence of elements of the same type.
What is a linked list?
A linked list is a data structure that consists of a sequence of nodes where each node contains a reference to the next node.
What is the main difference between an array and a linked list?
The main difference is that an array has a fixed size, while a linked list can dynamically grow and shrink.
What are the advantages of using an array?
Advantages of using an array include constant-time access to elements and efficient memory usage.
What are the advantages of using a linked list?
Advantages of using a linked list include dynamic size, efficient insertion and deletion operations.
How do you access an element in an array?
Elements in an array can be accessed using their index.
How do you insert an element at the beginning of a linked list?
To insert an element at the beginning of a linked list, create a new node, set its next pointer to the current head, and update the head pointer to the new node.
How do you delete an element from an array?
To delete an element from an array, shift all the elements after the deleted element by one position and update the array size.
What is a disadvantage of using an array?
A disadvantage of using an array is that inserting or deleting elements in the middle of the array requires shifting all the elements after the insertion or deletion point.
What is a disadvantage of using a linked list?
A disadvantage of using a linked list is that accessing elements at arbitrary positions requires traversing the list from the beginning.
Which data structure is more suitable for frequent insertions and deletions?
A linked list is more suitable for frequent insertions and deletions.
Which data structure provides constant-time access to elements?
An array provides constant-time access to elements.
Which data structure uses more memory?
An array uses more memory because it requires space for a fixed number of elements, while a linked list only requires space for the elements and references.
Which data structure is better for implementing a stack?
A linked list is better for implementing a stack because insertion and deletion operations can be done at the beginning in constant time.
Which data structure is better for implementing a queue?
Both an array and a linked list can be used to implement a queue, but a linked list is more efficient for enqueue and dequeue operations.