C++ Data Structures & Abstract Data Types Overview

1. Recitation Week 10 Object Oriented Programming COP3330 / CGS5409

2. Today’s Recitation • Intro to Data Structures • Vectors • Linked Lists • Queues • Stacks

3. Abstract Data Types • C++ has some built-in methods of storing compound data in useful ways, like arrays and structs. • Collectively known as Abstract Data Types, as they describe the nature of what is stored, along with the expected operations for accessing the data, without specifying the details of implementation

4. Abstract Data Types • C++ classes allow a nice mechanism for implementing such data types • Provides an interface (the public section) for the necessary operations • The actual implementation details are internal and hidden.

5. Vectors • Data structure that stores items of the same type, and is based on storage in an array • By encapsulating an array into a class (a vector class), we can • Use dynamic allocation to allow the internal array to be flexible in size • Handle boundary issues of the array (error checking for out-of-bounds indices).

6. Vectors • Advantages: Random access - i.e. quick locating of data if the index is known. • Disadvantages: Inserts and Deletes are typically slow, since they may require shifting many elements to consecutive array slots

7. Linked Lists • Collections of data items linked together with pointers, lined up "in a row". • Typically a list of data of the same type, like an array, but storage is arranged differently. • Made up of a collection of "nodes", which are created from a self-referential class (or struct).

8. Linked Lists • Self-referential class: a class whose member data contains at least one pointer that points to an object of the same class type. • Each node contains a piece of data, and a pointer to the next node. • Nodes can be anywhere in memory (not restricted to consecutive slots, like in an array). • Nodes generally allocated dynamically, so a linked list can grow to any size, theoretically (within the boundaries of the program's memory).

9. Linked Lists • An alternative to array-based storage. • Advantages: Inserts and Deletes are typically fast. Require only creation of a new node, and changing of a few pointers. • Disadvantage: No random access. Possible to build indexing into a linked list class, but locating an element requires walking through the list. • Notice that the advantages of the array (vector) are generally the disadvantages of the linked list, and vice versa

10. Stacks • First In Last Out (FILO) • Insertions and removals can occur from "top" position only • Analogy - a stack of cafeteria trays. New trays are always placed on top. Trays also picked up from the top.

11. Stacks • A stack class will have two primary operations: • push -- adds an item onto the top of the stack • pop -- removes the top item from the stack • Typical application areas include compilers, operating systems, handling of program memory (nested function calls)

12. Queues • First In First Out (FIFO) • Insertions at the "end" of the queue, and removals from the "front" of the queue. • Analogy - waiting in line for a ride at an amusement park. Get in line at the end. First come, first serve.

13. Queues • A queue class will have two primary operations: • enqueue-- adds an item into the queue (i.e. at the back of the line) • dequeue-- removes an item from the queue (i.e. from the front of the line). • Typical application areas include print job scheduling, operating systems (process scheduling).

14. Implementing Abstract Types • Some abstract types, like Stacks and Queues, can be implemented with a vector or with a linked list.  • A stack can use a linked list as its underlying storage mechanism, for instance, but would limit the access to the list to just the "push" and "pop" concepts (insert and remove from one end).

15. Trees • A non-linear collection of data items, also linked together with pointers (like a linked list). • Made up of self-referential nodes. In this case, each node may contain 2 or more pointers to other nodes.

16. Trees • Typical example: a binary tree • Each node contains a data element, and two pointers, each of which points to another node. • Very useful for fast searching and sorting of data, assuming the data is to be kept in some kind of order. • Binary search - finds a path through the tree, starting at the "root", and each chosen path (left or right node) eliminates half of the stored values.

17. Code Example: Linked Lists • Creates a template doubly linked list of List() type, composed of Listnode() type nodes. • Listnode.h -- Template ListNode class definition. • List.h -- Template List class definition.

18. Listnode.h #ifndef LISTNODE_H #define LISTNODE_H template< typename T > class List; template< typename T > class ListNode { friend class List< T >; // make List a friend public: ListNode( const T & ); // constructor T getData() const; // return data in node private: T data; // data ListNode< T > *nextPtr; // next node in list };

19. Listnode.h -- continued // constructor template< typename T > ListNode< T >::ListNode( const T &info ): data( info ), nextPtr( 0 ) { } // end ListNode constructor // return copy of data in node template< typename T > T ListNode< T >::getData() const { return data; } // end function getData #endif

20. List.h #ifndef LIST_H #define LIST_H #include <iostream> #include "Listnode.h" // ListNode class definition template< typename T > class List { public: List(); // constructor ~List(); // destructor void insertAtFront( const T & ); void insertAtBack( const T & ); bool removeFromFront( T & ); bool removeFromBack( T & ); bool isEmpty() const; void print() const; private: ListNode< T > *firstPtr; // pointer to first node ListNode< T > *lastPtr; // pointer to last node ListNode< T > *getNewNode( const T & ); };

21. List.h -- continued // default constructor template< typename T > List< T >::List() : firstPtr( 0 ), lastPtr( 0 ) { } // end List constructor // destructor template< typename T > List< T >::~List() { if ( !isEmpty() ) // List is not empty { cout << "Destroying nodes ...\n"; ListNode< T > *currentPtr = firstPtr; ListNode< T > *tempPtr; while ( currentPtr != 0 ) // delete remaining nodes { tempPtr = currentPtr; cout << tempPtr->data << '\n'; currentPtr = currentPtr->nextPtr; delete tempPtr; } // end while } // end if cout << "All nodes destroyed\n\n"; } // end List destructor

22. List.h -- continued / insert node at front of list template< typename T > void List< T >::insertAtFront( const T &value ) { ListNode< T > *newPtr = getNewNode( value ); // new node if ( isEmpty() ) // List is empty firstPtr = lastPtr = newPtr; // new list has only one node else // List is not empty { newPtr->nextPtr = firstPtr; // point new node to previous 1st node firstPtr = newPtr; // aim firstPtr at new node } // end else } // end function insertAtFront

23. List.h -- continued // insert node at back of list template< typename T > void List< T >::insertAtBack( const T &value ) { ListNode< T > *newPtr = getNewNode( value ); // new node if ( isEmpty() ) // List is empty firstPtr = lastPtr = newPtr; // new list has only one node else // List is not empty { lastPtr->nextPtr = newPtr; // update previous last node lastPtr = newPtr; // new last node } // end else } // end function insertAtBack

24. List.h -- continued // delete node from front of list template< typename T > bool List< T >::removeFromFront( T &value ) { if ( isEmpty() ) // List is empty return false; // delete unsuccessful else { ListNode< T > *tempPtr = firstPtr; // hold tempPtr to delete if ( firstPtr == lastPtr ) firstPtr = lastPtr = 0; // no nodes remain after removal else firstPtr = firstPtr->nextPtr; // point to previous 2nd node value = tempPtr->data; // return data being removed delete tempPtr; // reclaim previous front node return true; // delete successful } // end else } // end function removeFromFront

25. List.h -- continued // delete node from back of list template< typename T > bool List< T >::removeFromBack( T &value ) { if ( isEmpty() ) // List is empty return false; // delete unsuccessful else { ListNode< T > *tempPtr = lastPtr; // hold tempPtr to delete if ( firstPtr == lastPtr ) // List has one element firstPtr = lastPtr = 0; // no nodes remain after removal else { ListNode< T > *currentPtr = firstPtr; while ( currentPtr->nextPtr != lastPtr ) // locate second-to-last element currentPtr = currentPtr->nextPtr; // move to next node lastPtr = currentPtr; // remove last node currentPtr->nextPtr = 0; // this is now the last node } // end else value = tempPtr->data; // return value from old last node delete tempPtr; // reclaim former last node return true; // delete successful } // end else } // end function removeFromBack

26. List.h -- continued // is List empty? template< typename T > bool List< T >::isEmpty() const { return firstPtr == 0; } // end function isEmpty // return pointer to newly allocated node template< typename T > ListNode< T > *List< T >::getNewNode( const T &value ) { return new ListNode< T >( value ); } // end function getNewNode

27. List.h -- continued // display contents of List template< typename T > void List< T >::print() const { if ( isEmpty() ) { // List is empty cout << "The list is empty\n\n"; return; } // end if ListNode< T > *currentPtr = firstPtr; cout << "The list is: "; while ( currentPtr != 0 ) { // get element dat cout << currentPtr->data << ' '; currentPtr = currentPtr->nextPtr; } // end while cout << "\n\n"; } // end function print #endif

28. Questions?