What are some common use cases for queues and stacks?

What are some common use cases for queues and stacks?

Queues and stacks are fundamental data structures used in various applications. Queues are often used in scenarios like task scheduling, print job management, and handling requests in web servers. Stacks are commonly used in function call management, undo mechanisms in applications, and parsing expressions.

Can you give me an example of how a queue is used in a web server?

Sure! In a web server, a queue can manage incoming requests. When multiple users send requests simultaneously, the server places them in a queue. It processes each request in the order they were received, ensuring that no requests are lost and that they are handled fairly.

What about stacks? How are they used in programming?

Stacks are used in programming for managing function calls. When a function is called, its context is pushed onto the stack. When the function completes, its context is popped off the stack, allowing the program to return to the previous state. This is essential for recursion and backtracking algorithms.

Are there any real-world applications of stacks?

Yes, stacks are used in many real-world applications, such as in web browsers for managing the history of pages visited. When you navigate back, the browser pops the last page from the stack, allowing you to return to your previous location.