In computer programming, data structures are very important. These are ways of keeping and organizing data in a computer so they can be efficiently used. There are various kinds of structures and every type is applicable to different applications. Some are even advanced and highly dedicated to specific tasks.
Nearly every program and software system comes with data structures. They are vital elements of many effective algorithms. They also make it possible for individuals to manage large amounts of data like Internet indexing services and larger databases. There are even programming languages and formal design methods that give emphasis to these structures as the primary organizing element in software design.
Basic Principles of Data Structures
Data structures, in general, are based on the computer's ability to get and store data at any section of its memory. This is specified through an address which can be kept in the memory and controlled by the program.
Record and array data structures are developed based on calculating the addresses of data items along with arithmetic operations. Linked structures, on the other hand, are created based on keeping the data's addresses inside the structure itself. Most data structures employ both principles and these are most of the times mixed with non-trivial methods.
Abstract Data Structures
In implementing a data structure, you usually need to write a set of actions and procedures that develop and manipulate orders of that particular structure. You cannot analyze the efficiency of the structure individually from the operations.
It is this observation that supports the theoretical concept of abstract data type. This is a data structure that's indirectly defined by the operations that can be done on it as well as the mathematical properties of the operations. These properties include time cost and space.
Language Support of Data Structures
Assembly languages and several types of low-level languages usually lack data structure support. On the other hand, high-level programming languages have unique syntax and other support for particular structures. There are also a number of languages that give basic facilities that programmers may utilize in order to create arbitrarily composite structures. Advanced programming languages have standard libraries that execute common data structures.
Advanced programming languages also hold up modular programming. This is the division between the library interface module and its execution. Some languages offer opaque data types that let users conceal execution details.
Depending on the purpose of high-level languages, data structures come in chic design and are usually more expressive particularly in languages whose objectives are drawn out to gauging a set of issues or problems.
A programmer should then have sufficient knowledge in programming data structure, which enables him to completely explore the properties of the language in implementing an application. Every programming language belongs to the following types of paradigm: object-oriented, imperative, distributed, event-driven, generic, procedural, concurrent, functional, array-oriented, and reflective.
Author Resource:
To learn more about computer programming, including how you can get started writing your own programs today, Check Out, http://beginnerscomputerprogramming.com
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/rss.jpg "XML Feed For RSS")