Merits and Demerits of Learning Algorithms First

Certain times, you feel how hard will it be to learn algorithms first without the knowledge of Data Structure! To help you dive into this situation, we have summarised the best of the merits and demerits of what can happen if you learn algorithms first, instead of DS.

Merits of learning algorithm first:

  1. You’ll learn about how to break the problem into smaller subproblems that can be converted into a program easily.
  2. You’ll learn how algorithms will help programmers to implement the solution to the problem easily.
  3. You’ll learn how algorithms can reduce the time complexity to solve any particular task.
  4. You’ll learn about how the logical implementation of the programs is written in steps to solve the problem.
  5. It becomes easy for any programmer to debug the code easily and identify the logical error in the program.

Demerits of learning algorithm first:

  1. As most of the problems are related to the data, its retrieval or processing, and modification, before having any prior knowledge of data structure, cannot be applied directly.
  2. It will be very difficult to learn and apply the algorithm without having any data structure.
  3. The concept of the most efficient algorithm for a problem will not be met in every scenario.

What Should I Learn First: Data Structures or Algorithms?

Data structure and algorithms are an integral part of computer science. All the enthusiasts, at some point in time, learn these two important topics. They are different yet very much interrelated topics. This interrelation brings out the big question that needs to be answered: “What should I learn first – data structures or algorithms?” 

What Should I Learn First: Data Structures or Algorithms?

In this article, we will be focusing on this problem and try to give you a solution along with an overall view of both the possibilities. Firstly, before understanding what is the first priority for you to learn, it is a must that you learn what is a data structure and what is algorithm first.

Table of Contents

  • What is data Structure?
    • Types of Data Structure
  • What is Algorithm?
  • Why Data Structures and Algoithms are Important to Learn?
    • Why should you learn Data Structure?
    • Why should you learn Algorithms?
  • How are Data Structures and Algorithms related?
  • Merits and Demerits of Learning Data Structure First
    • Merits of Learning Data Strucutre First
    • Demerits of Learning Data Structure First
  • Merits and Demerits of Learning Algorithms First
    • Merits of Learning Algorithms First
    • Demerits of Learning Algorithms First
  • What Should you Learn First? – Conclusion

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