What are circular queue algorithms and how do they work?

What are circular queue algorithms and how do they work?

Circular queue algorithms are data structures that use a fixed-size array in a circular manner to manage elements. They allow for efficient use of space and are particularly useful in scenarios where the queue needs to wrap around when it reaches the end.

Can you explain how to implement a circular queue in Python?

Sure! To implement a circular queue in Python, you can use a list to represent the queue and two pointers to track the front and rear positions. Here's a simple example:

class CircularQueue:
    def __init__(self, size):
        self.size = size
        self.queue = [None] * size
        self.front = self.rear = -1

    def enqueue(self, value):
        if (self.rear + 1) % self.size == self.front:
            print('Queue is full')
            return
        if self.front == -1:
            self.front = 0
        self.rear = (self.rear + 1) % self.size
        self.queue[self.rear] = value

    def dequeue(self):
        if self.front == -1:
            print('Queue is empty')
            return
        value = self.queue[self.front]
        if self.front == self.rear:
            self.front = self.rear = -1
        else:
            self.front = (self.front + 1) % self.size
        return value

What are the advantages of using a circular queue?

The advantages of using a circular queue include efficient memory usage, as it allows for the reuse of space that becomes available when elements are dequeued. It also helps in scenarios where the queue needs to handle continuous data streams, such as in buffering and scheduling tasks.