How does the performance of different data structures compare?

Can you explain the performance differences between arrays and linked lists?

Sure! Arrays provide O(1) access time but O(n) for insertions and deletions, while linked lists offer O(n) access but O(1) for insertions and deletions.

What about hash tables? How do they compare?

Hash tables generally provide O(1) average time complexity for lookups, insertions, and deletions, making them very efficient for many use cases.

And how do trees fit into this comparison?

Trees, especially balanced ones like AVL or Red-Black trees, offer O(log n) time complexity for lookups, insertions, and deletions, which is better than linked lists but not as fast as hash tables.

Can you summarize when to use each data structure?

Absolutely! Use arrays for fast access, linked lists for frequent insertions/deletions, hash tables for quick lookups, and trees for sorted data.