Difference between Data Type and Data Structure

Last Updated on July 2, 2023 by Mayank Dham

Data Type and Data Structure are essential concepts in the field of computer science. A data type serves as a categorization of data, defining the specific type of value that can be stored in a variable or expression. On the other hand, a data structure is a method of organizing and storing data in computer memory, ensuring efficient access and manipulation of the stored information.

What is Data Type?

A data type plays a crucial role in enabling the compiler to discern the specific kind of data or information stored within a variable or expression. It serves as a form of communication between a programmer and a compiler, providing explicit information regarding the type of data being stored and the amount of memory required to accommodate it.

There are some common data types such as integers, float-point numbers, characters, and boolean. Let’s see some common data types in Java programming.

Example of Data Type:

class PrepBytes {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
        int number1= 10;
        float number2=10.5f;
        boolean ans= true;
        char character= 'A';

        System.out.println("Integer variable: "+number1);
        System.out.println("Float variable: "+number2);
        System.out.println("Boolean variable: "+ans);
        System.out.println("Character variable: "+character);
    }
}

Output:

Integer variable: 10
Float variable: 10.5
Boolean variable: true
Character variable: A

In the above example, we have taken variables of 4 different data types int, float, boolean and char.

What is Data Structure?

A data structure provides a way to store data in an efficient way so that, it can be used later to perform some actions on that data. In simple words, the data structure is a collection of data types. Some of the most popular data structures are array, stack, queue, linked list, tree, and graph.

When we have a long list of the same data types or different data types, it is better to use an appropriate data structure rather than using hundreds of variables. For example, when we need to store the data about employee ids of the employee, who are newly joined. To store these employee ids, we can use an array of type integers rather than using variables for individual employee id as this list might go very long. Let’s see an example of the data structure in Java.

Example of Data Structure:

public class PrepBytes {
   public static void main(String[] args) {
      
      int[] employee_ids = {101, 102, 103, 104, 105};


      System.out.println("Employee ids are: ");
      for (int i = 0; i < employee_ids.length; i++) {
         System.out.print(employee_ids[i]+" ");
      }
   }
}

Output:

Employee ids are:
101 102 103 104 105 

In the above example, we have created an array data structure to store the employee ids with the same data type integer.

Difference between Data Type and Data Structure?

Some important points about the difference between data type and data structure are mentioned below.

Conclusion
In summary, data types and data structures are two important concepts in computer science and programming. While they are related, they serve different purposes and have distinct characteristics.
Data types refer to the classification of data based on their nature and the operations that can be performed on them. They define the range of values that a variable can hold and determine the memory space required for storing the data. Examples of common data types include integers, floating-point numbers, characters, and booleans.
On the other hand, data structures are arrangements or organizations of data elements that allow efficient storage, retrieval, and manipulation of data. They provide a way to organize and structure data in a logical manner, facilitating efficient algorithms and operations. Examples of data structures include arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, trees, and graphs.
While data types focus on the properties of individual data elements, data structures focus on the organization and relationships between multiple data elements. Data structures often make use of specific data types to store and manipulate data effectively.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

Q1: What are examples of data types?
Examples of data types include integers (whole numbers), floating-point numbers (decimal numbers), characters (single letters or symbols), booleans (true/false values), and strings (sequences of characters).

Q2: What are examples of data structures?
Examples of data structures include arrays (a collection of elements of the same type), linked lists (a sequence of nodes where each node contains data and a reference to the next node), stacks (a Last-In-First-Out structure), queues (a First-In-First-Out structure), trees (a hierarchical structure), and graphs (a collection of nodes connected by edges).

Q3: How do data types and data structures relate to each other?
Data structures often make use of specific data types to store and manipulate data effectively. Data types define the properties and operations that can be performed on individual data elements, while data structures provide a way to organize and structure multiple data elements in a meaningful way.

Q4: Why are data types and data structures important?
Data types and data structures are fundamental concepts in computer science and programming. They play a crucial role in designing efficient algorithms, optimizing memory usage, and representing and manipulating data in a structured manner. Understanding data types and data structures is essential for writing reliable and efficient code.