Real-World Examples
See how data structures power the applications you use every day.
Shopping Carts
Dynamic arrays automatically resize as you add more items to your cart, just like on Amazon or any e-commerce site.
Browser History
Your browser's back button uses a stack - the last page visited is the first one returned to when going back.
Music Playlists
Spotify uses linked lists for playlists - easily insert, remove, and reorder songs without shifting all elements.
Print Queues
Your printer processes jobs in order using a queue - first document sent is first printed (FIFO).
File Systems
Your computer's folder structure is a tree - easily navigate directories and organize files hierarchically.
Database Indexes
Databases use binary search trees and B-trees to quickly find records, making searches lightning fast.
Web Caching
Hash tables power caches in web browsers and servers, instantly retrieving frequently accessed data.
Email Filtering
Spam filters use hash tables to quickly check if an email address or domain is on a blocklist.
Social Networks
Facebook and LinkedIn use graphs to represent connections between people and suggest mutual friends.
GPS Navigation
Google Maps uses graph algorithms like Dijkstra's to find the shortest route between two locations.
Undo Operations
Text editors and design tools use stacks to implement undo/redo - last action is first to be undone.
Task Scheduling
Operating systems use priority queues to schedule which processes get CPU time based on importance.
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