CS285 Data Structures What is a Data Structure? The Classic Data ...

CS285-Lecture 01

5 December 2002

CS285 Data Structures „ „ „ „

Dr. Eric A. Durant Email: [email protected] / Phone: 277-7439 Office: CC-27 Office hours: „ „

„

Monday at 2 P.M. Wednesday at 1 P.M.

Tuesday at 11 A.M. Thursday at 11 A.M.

Web:

http://people.msoe.edu/~durant/courses/cs285/ 1

What is a Data Structure? „

Formally „

„

Any of a number of classic mechanisms for arranging and using collections of data

Generically „

Any mechanism used to arrange and manage data in a computer program

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The Classic Data Structures „ „ „ „ „ „

Array/vector Linked List Tree Hash Table Set Queue

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© by Eric A. Durant, Ph.D.

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CS285-Lecture 01

5 December 2002

Why So Many Choices? „ „

Governed by how data is manipulated Each provides differing combinations of mechanisms for: „ „ „

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Storage Access Ordering

Each of these vary by potential application 4

Traditional Data Structures Course „

Learn about a new data structure „ „

„ „ „ „ „

Internal mechanisms Cost to use

Build it from basic program constructs Test it Develop an application for the structure Repeat Learn how to select an appropriate structure 5

Modern Data Structures Course „

Learn about a new data structure „ „ „

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Learn how to leverage the Standard Template Library (STL) „

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Internal mechanisms Cost to use How it is built with program constructs

It contains most of the classic structures

Develop an application for the structure Repeat Learn how to select an appropriate structure 6

© by Eric A. Durant, Ph.D.

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