Arrays are a fundamental data structure in computer science, and their storage structure can vary depending on the system or programming language being used. Here's a general overview of how arrays are stored in memory: 1. Contiguous Block of Memory: Description: Arrays are stored as a contiguous block of memory, meaning that the elements of an array are stored next to each other in a sequential manner. How it works: The first element of the array is stored at the first memory location allocated to the array. The second element is stored immediately after the first element, and so on. This allows for efficient access to array elements, as the memory address of any element can be computed with the formula: Address_of_element_i = Base_Address_of_Array + (i * Size_of_Element) Benefits: Constant-time (O(1)) access to elements by index. Easy to implement and access. Example: Consider an array arr[5] : arr = [ 10 , 20 , 30 , 40 , 50 ] The memory allocation would look like this: ...
Data structures are not merely academic—they have practical applications in: Operating Systems: For managing processes, memory allocation, and file systems. Databases: Indexing structures (e.g., B-trees) enable fast query processing. Networking: Graphs are essential in routing and network topology. Artificial Intelligence: Trees and graphs model decision-making processes and search problems. Software Development: From handling user input to managing large-scale data processing, choosing the right data structure is key to performance and maintainability.