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https://jennychen9827sbu.github.io/CAD281/dataStructure.html

What Is a Data Structure?

A data structure is a way to store, organize, and manage data so that it can be used efficiently.

In C, data structures can be:

• Built-in: arrays, pointers
• User-defined: struct, union, enum
• Abstract types: stack, queue, linked list, etc.

❓ Why Use Data Structures?

• To group related data (e.g., student info: name, id, GPA)
• To perform efficient operations (insert, delete, search)
• To model real-world problems (queues in printers, stacks in undo)

When to Use Data Structures?

• When you need to store multiple values
• When data has relationships (e.g., tree or graph)
• When performance (speed or memory) matters