What are some examples of queue data structures?

What are some examples of queue data structures?

Queues are linear data structures that follow the First In First Out (FIFO) principle. Examples include:

1. Simple Queue: Basic queue implementation.
2. Circular Queue: A queue that connects the end back to the front.
3. Priority Queue: Elements are processed based on priority rather than order.
4. Double-Ended Queue (Deque): Allows insertion and deletion from both ends.

Can you explain how a priority queue works?

Sure! A priority queue is a special type of queue where each element has a priority assigned to it. Elements with higher priority are dequeued before those with lower priority, regardless of their order in the queue. This is often implemented using heaps.

What are some real-world applications of queues?

Queues are used in various real-world applications, such as:

1. Print Queue: Manages print jobs sent to a printer.
2. Task Scheduling: Operating systems use queues to manage tasks.
3. Call Center Systems: Calls are queued for customer service representatives.

How do I implement a queue in Python?

You can implement a queue in Python using the collections.deque class for efficient appending and popping. Here's a simple example:

from collections import deque

queue = deque()
queue.append('first')  # Enqueue
queue.append('second')
print(queue.popleft())  # Dequeue: 'first'