Arrays: Why Are They the Cornerstone of Data Structures? A Must-Learn for Beginners

This article introduces the core position of arrays as a basic data structure. An array is a sequence of elements of the same type, enabling random access through indices (starting from 0). It features simplicity, intuitive design, continuous storage, and efficient index-based access. As a foundational structure, arrays underpin complex data structures like stacks, queues, and hash tables (e.g., stacks use arrays for Last-In-First-Out behavior, while queues utilize circular arrays for First-In-First-Out operations). They also form the basis of multi-dimensional arrays (e.g., matrices). Arrays support fundamental operations such as traversal, search, and sorting, with a random access time complexity of O(1), significantly outperforming linked lists' O(n). However, arrays have limitations: fixed size (static arrays) and inefficient insertion/deletion (requiring element shifting). In summary, arrays serve as the "key to entry" in data structures, and mastering them lays the foundation for learning complex structures and algorithms.