What are the differences between queues and priority queues?

What are the differences between queues and priority queues?

Queues are data structures that follow the First-In-First-Out (FIFO) principle, while priority queues allow elements to be processed based on their priority.

Can you explain how elements are prioritized in a priority queue?

In a priority queue, each element is associated with a priority level. Elements with higher priority are dequeued before those with lower priority, regardless of their order in the queue.

Are there any real-world applications for priority queues?

Yes, priority queues are used in various applications such as scheduling tasks in operating systems, managing bandwidth in networks, and in algorithms like Dijkstra's for shortest path finding.

What data structures can be used to implement a priority queue?

Priority queues can be implemented using various data structures, including binary heaps, Fibonacci heaps, and balanced binary search trees.