What are the operations of a priority queue?

What are the main operations of a priority queue?

A priority queue primarily supports two operations: insertion and removal. Insertion adds an element with a priority, while removal retrieves and removes the element with the highest priority.

How does the priority queue handle elements with the same priority?

When elements have the same priority, the priority queue typically uses a secondary criterion, such as the order of insertion, to determine which element to remove first.

Can you explain how to implement a priority queue in Python?

Certainly! You can implement a priority queue in Python using the heapq module, which provides an efficient way to maintain a heap data structure.

What are some real-world applications of priority queues?

Priority queues are used in various applications, such as scheduling tasks in operating systems, managing bandwidth in networks, and implementing Dijkstra's algorithm for shortest paths.