What are the performance differences between arrays and other data structures?

What are the performance differences between arrays and other data structures?

Arrays are generally faster for indexed access and iteration, but they have fixed sizes. Other structures like linked lists allow dynamic sizing but can be slower for access.

Can you explain why arrays are faster for indexed access?

Arrays store elements in contiguous memory locations, allowing direct access via index. This results in O(1) time complexity for access.

What about the performance of dynamic arrays?

Dynamic arrays, like ArrayLists in Java, can resize themselves. They offer average O(1) access time but can have O(n) time complexity during resizing.

How do arrays compare to hash tables?

Hash tables provide average O(1) time complexity for lookups, but they use more memory and can have collisions, unlike arrays.

Are there scenarios where arrays are not the best choice?

Yes, if you need frequent insertions and deletions, linked lists or other dynamic structures may be more efficient.