Question 2/3
What is the difference between a stack and a queue in data structures?
A stack is a last-in-first-out (LIFO) data structure. A queue is a first-in-first-out (FIFO) data structure.
A stack is a data structure that stores data in a linear order. A queue is a data structure that stores data in a circular order.
A stack is a data structure that is used to implement the back button in a web browser. A queue is a data structure that is used to implement the print job queue in an operating system.
A stack is a data structure that is used to implement the undo operation in a text editor. A queue is a data structure that is used to implement the redo operation in a text editor.
The correct answer is: A stack is a last-in-first-out (LIFO) data structure. A queue is a first-in-first-out (FIFO) data structure.
The correct answer is: A stack is a last-in-first-out (LIFO) data structure, while a queue is a first-in-first-out (FIFO) data structure.
To understand the difference between a stack and a queue in data structures, let's break it down:
1. Stack:
A stack is a last-in-first-out (LIFO) data structure, which means that the last item added to the stack is the first one to be removed. Imagine a stack of books where you can only add or remove books from the top. This is similar to how a stack operates. The process of adding an item to the top of the stack is called "push," while removing an item from the top is called "pop."
A common real-life example is the back button in a web browser. Each time you visit a new page, it is pushed onto the stack, and when you hit the back button, the last page you visited is popped off the stack, returning you to the previous page.
2. Queue:
A queue is a first-in-first-out (FIFO) data structure, which means that the first item added to the queue is the first one to be removed. Think of a queue of people waiting in line, where the person who arrived first will be the first one to be served. In a queue, items are added at one end called the rear and removed from the other end called the front.
Another real-life example of a queue is the print job queue in an operating system. Each print job is added to the end of the queue, and the printer serves the jobs one by one in the order they were added, starting from the front of the queue.
To summarize, the key differences between a stack and a queue in data structures are:
- Stack follows the LIFO (Last-In-First-Out) principle, while a queue follows the FIFO (First-In-First-Out) principle.
- In a stack, items are added and removed from the top only, while in a queue, items are added at one end and removed from the other end.
- Stacks are commonly used for backtracking or undo operations, while queues are commonly used for managing tasks in a sequential order, like job scheduling.