Suggest an editImprove this articleRefine the answer for “What is a data structure?”. Your changes go to moderation before they’re published.Approval requiredContentWhat you’re changing🇺🇸EN🇺🇦UAPreviewTitle (EN)Short answer (EN)A **data structure** is a way of organizing and storing data in a computer's memory so that it can be conveniently and efficiently accessed, modified, and processed. **Key point:** a data structure determines exactly how data is stored and what can be done with it quickly.Shown above the full answer for quick recall.Answer (EN)ImageA data structure is a way of organizing and storing data in a computer's memory so that it can be conveniently and efficiently accessed, modified, and processed. Different data structures solve different problems: - an array is convenient for fast access by index; - a list is for frequent insertions and deletions; - a dictionary (hash table) is for fast lookup by key; - a tree is for hierarchies and fast searches; - a queue and a stack are for ordered processing of elements. In other words, a data structure determines **exactly how** data is stored and **what can be done with it quickly**.For the reviewerNote to the moderator (optional)Visible only to the moderator. Helps review go faster.