Which data structure would be the most appropriate to implement a coll...
Head and tail pointers in singly link list will make the insertion and deletion in O(1) time complexity if we are accessing the elements in FIFO order. In doubly link list since only head pointer is given then for insertion we have to traverse the complete link list so insertion will be O(n) so not appropriate. In binary tree we have only a pointer to the root. Insertion and deletion in binary tree will be O(log n) so not appropriate. In hash table accessing the data in FIFO order will not be possible.
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Which data structure would be the most appropriate to implement a coll...
Understanding the Problem
To implement a collection of values with the specified characteristics, we need to choose a data structure that supports FIFO (First-In, First-Out) ordering, can grow dynamically, and efficiently manages large items.
Characteristics Analysis
- FIFO Order: Items must be retrieved and removed in the order they were added.
- Dynamic Size: The structure should not have a predefined limit on the number of items.
- Large Item Size: The overhead of storing memory addresses should be minimal compared to the size of the items.
Why Singly Linked List with Head and Tail Pointers?
- FIFO Implementation: A singly linked list can easily implement FIFO by maintaining pointers to both the head (for removal) and the tail (for insertion). This allows for O(1) time complexity for both enqueue and dequeue operations.
- Dynamic Sizing: Linked lists inherently grow as needed, allowing for an indefinite number of elements without a fixed size constraint.
- Memory Efficiency: Storing items in a linked list means that each node holds the item and a pointer. Since the items are large, the overhead for the pointer (typically the size of a memory address) is minimal compared to the size of the item itself.
Comparison with Other Options
- Doubly Linked List: While it supports FIFO, the added complexity of managing two pointers per node increases memory overhead.
- Binary Tree: This structure does not guarantee FIFO order, making it unsuitable for the requirements.
- Hash Table: It does not maintain order and is not designed for FIFO retrieval.
Conclusion
Given the characteristics and requirements, option 'A' (Singly linked list with head and tail pointers) is the most appropriate choice for efficiently implementing a dynamic collection of large items with FIFO behavior.
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