Data Structures

Definition ∞ Data structures are fundamental methods for organizing and storing data in a computer so that it can be accessed and modified efficiently. They define relationships between data elements and the operations that can be performed on them. Common examples include arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, and graphs, each suited for different computational tasks.
Context ∞ In the context of blockchain and cryptocurrency news, discussions about data structures often arise in relation to network scalability, transaction processing efficiency, and the design of cryptographic primitives. Debates may concern the trade-offs between different structures in terms of memory usage, computational complexity, and the security properties they confer upon a system. Advances in zero-knowledge proofs and sharding technologies frequently depend on novel or optimized data structure implementations.