Section 2: Fundamentals of data structures Flashcards
What is an array?
A set of related data items stored under a single identifier
What is a “static” data structure?
A method of storing data where the amount of data stored (and memory required to store it) is fixed
What is a “dynamic” data structure?
A method of storing data where the amount of data stored(and the memory required to store it) can vary while the program is being run
What is meant by a “LIFO” structure?
Last In First Out
What is meant by a “FIFO” structure?
First In First Out
What type of structure is a “stack”?
LIFO
What is a stack?
A structure where the last item of data added is the first to be dealt with when the data is looked at/ referenced
What is a stack frame?
When a stack is used to store information about a running program. A pointer is used to identify the start point of the frame
What is an interrupt?
A signal sent by a device or program to the processor requesting its attention
What is recursion?
When a subroutine calls on itself
What type of structure is a “queue”?
FIFO
What is a queue?
A structure where the first item of data added is the first item to be looked at when the data is looked at / referenced
When are queue structures used?
Peripherals, e.g. keyboard
What is meant by a “circular” queue?
A type of queue that can be represented in a circular format, where the front of the queue is joined to the back of the queue.
What is meant by a “linear” queue?
A standard queue, the data can be represented as a line. However the maximum size of the queue is fixed in this case
What is another word for a “circular queue”?
Circular buffer
What is a “priority” queue?
A priority queue is identical to a standard queue apart from how it adds a priority to each item. This allows higher priority items to “skip” the lower priority items in the queue.
What is a graph?
A mathematical structure that models the relationship between pairs of objects