TECHNICAL SKILLS INTERVIEW
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DATA
STRUCTURES
DEMYSTIFIED.
BY YOUSSEF EL HEJJIOUI
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01 DEFINITION
A data structure is a way of organizing, storing, and
managing data efficiently so it can be accessed and
modified effectively.
Knowing the differences between data structures is
crucial for selecting the most efficient one for a given
task, improving speed, memory usage, and code
readability.
Examples include arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues,
trees, and graphs.
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02 ARRAYS
An array stores elements in contiguous memory
(locations are next to each other), allowing constant-
time access (O(1)) via indices. Insertion and deletion
take O(n) due to shifting elements. Arrays are ideal
for tasks like storing lists or matrix operations but
have a fixed size, requiring resizing for growth.
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03 LINKED LISTS
A linked list consists of nodes, each containing data
and a pointer(Memory Address) to the next node. This
structure allows efficient insertions and deletions O(1)
but accessing elements requires traversing the list,
resulting in O(n) time complexity. Linked lists are
dynamic in size, making them ideal for applications
like queues and stacks.
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04 STACKS
A stack is a Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) data structure
where elements are added and removed from the
top. Push and pop operations have O(1) time
complexity. A real-life example is a stack of plates:
you add and remove plates from the top. Stacks are
commonly used in function calls, undo operations,
and expression evaluation.
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05 QUEUES
A queue is a First-In-First-Out (FIFO) data structure
where elements are added at the rear and removed
from the front. Enqueue and dequeue operations
have O(1) time complexity. A real-life example is a
line at a ticket counter, where the first person in line is
the first to be served. Queues are used in scheduling,
messaging systems, and handling requests.
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06 HASHMAPS
A map stores key-value pairs, where keys are hashed
to generate a unique index for efficient retrieval.
Lookup, insertion, and deletion operations have O(1)
average time complexity. A real-life example is
phone contacts, where the contact name (key) maps
to the phone number (value). Maps are used for fast
lookups, caching, and storing unique data.
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07 TREES
A tree is a hierarchical data structure consisting of
nodes, with a root node and child nodes forming
branches. Each node stores data and has pointers to
its children. Operations like insertion, deletion, and
search have O(log n) time complexity in balanced
trees. A real-life example is a family tree, where each
member (node) is connected to their parents and
children. Trees are used in databases, file systems,
and searching algorithms.
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08 GRAPHS
A graph is a collection of nodes (vertices) connected
by edges. It can be directed or undirected, and may
have weighted or unweighted edges. Operations like
traversal and search typically have O(V + E) time
complexity, where V is the number of vertices and E is
the number of edges. A real-life example is a social
network, where each person (node) is connected to
others (edges). Graphs are used in networking, social
media, and route planning algorithms.
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