Programming Foundations: Data Structures

Course details

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to fundamental data structures, equipping you with the skills you need to implement and utilize arrays, lists, dictionaries, stacks, and queues effectively. Through hands-on exercises and real-world examples, instructor Kathryn Hodge shows you each of how these structures operate, including their efficiency in terms of time and space complexity. An ideal fit for learners new to programming, this course emphasizes practical applications, enabling you to solve common software problems such as searching, sorting, and data management. Additionally, you'll learn to analyze the trade-offs of different data structures and apply this knowledge to design scalable and efficient solutions. By the end of the course, you'll have the tools and know-how to start tackling complex programming challenges with confidence.

Learning objectives
Implement and use fundamental data structures like arrays, lists, dictionaries, sets, stacks, and queues effectively in your programming projects.
Analyze and compare the efficiency of different data structures in terms of time and space complexity, applying this knowledge to choose the most suitable structure for various programming problems.
Explain the underlying principles of core data structures, articulating their benefits and trade-offs.
Use data structures within your algorithms to solve complex problems.

Concepts

Introduction

Why to use data structures
What you need to know
How to use CoderPad
How to Use GitHub Codespaces

Data Fundamentals

What is data
Introduction to data structures
Built-in data structures in Python
Common operations on data structures
Big-O notation

Array-Like Structures

What is an array
Create a list in Python
Retrieve data from a list in Python
Mutate a list in Python
Solution - Swap items
Multidimensional lists in Python
Tuples in Python
Solution - Square items
Search array-like structures
Sort array-like structures
Solution - Find the second smallest item
When to use array-like structures

Dictionaries

What is a dictionary
Create a dictionary in Python
Mutate a dictionary in Python
Solution - Update salary
Handle missing dictionary keys
Retrieve keys and value collections from dictionaries
Solution - Clean user preferences
When to use dictionaries

Sets

What is a set
Determine set membership in Python
Mutate a set in Python
Solution - Unique characters
Operations on sets in Python
Immutable sets in Python
Solution - Mutual friends
When to use sets

Queues

What is a queue
Use a deque as a queue in Python
Solution - Generate binary numbers
When to use queues

Stacks

What is a stack
Use a list as a stack in Python
Use a deque as a stack in Python
Solution - Matching parentheses
When to use stacks

Practice Using Data Structures in Python Applications

GitHub Codespace challenge - To-do list
GitHub Codespace solution - To-do list
GitHub Codespace challenge - Reservation waitlist
GitHub Codespace solution - Reservation waitlist
GitHub Codespace challenge - Inventory tracker
GitHub Codespace solution - Inventory tracker

Glossaries

Conclusion

How to decide which data structure to use