How do priority queues work?

Can you explain how priority queues work?

Sure! A priority queue is a data structure where each element has a priority. Elements with higher priority are served before those with lower priority.

How is a priority queue different from a regular queue?

In a regular queue, elements are processed in the order they arrive (FIFO), while in a priority queue, elements are processed based on their priority.

What are some common applications of priority queues?

Priority queues are commonly used in algorithms like Dijkstra's for shortest paths, in scheduling tasks, and in managing resources.

Can you give an example of how to implement a priority queue?

Certainly! You can implement a priority queue using a binary heap, where the highest (or lowest) priority element is always at the root.