What is Data Structure?
A data structure is a named location that can be used to store and organise data. And, an algorithm is a collection of steps to solve a particular problem.
Learning data structures and algorithms allow us to write efficient and optimised computer programs.
What is an Algorithm?
An algorithm is a set of well-defined instructions to solve a particular problem. It takes a set of inputs and produces the desired output.
For example;
An algorithm to add two numbers:
Take two number inputs
Add numbers using the + operator
Display the result
Qualities of Good Algorithms
- Input and output should be defined precisely.
- Each step in the algorithm should be unambiguous.
- Algorithms should be the most effective among many different ways to solve a problem.
- An algorithm shouldn't include computer code. Instead, the algorithm should be written in such a way that it can be used in different programming languages.
With this knowledge, we can choose the most appropriate data structures for specific projects.