What are the differences between stacks and queues?

What are the differences between stacks and queues?

Stacks and queues are both data structures used to store collections of items, but they operate differently. A stack follows the Last In First Out (LIFO) principle, meaning the last item added is the first one to be removed. A queue, on the other hand, follows the First In First Out (FIFO) principle, where the first item added is the first one to be removed.

Can you give me some real-world examples of where I would use stacks?

Sure! Stacks are commonly used in scenarios like undo mechanisms in text editors, function call management in programming, and parsing expressions in compilers.

What about queues? Where are they typically used?

Queues are often used in scenarios like managing tasks in print spooling, handling requests in web servers, and scheduling processes in operating systems.

Are there any situations where I should choose one over the other?

Yes, you should choose a stack when you need to access the most recently added item quickly, and a queue when you need to process items in the order they were added.