Merits and Demerits of Learning Data Structure First

Planning to go with Data Structures first, then Algorithms? We understand you. That is why we have curated the next section to help you understand the merits and demerits of opting for Data Structures first. 

Merits of Learning Data Structure first:

  1. You’ll learn about how data structure helps in storing the data efficiently in the storage device.
  2. You’ll also learn about how data structure provides the convenience of retrieving the data from the storage devices and provides effective and efficient processing on small as well as large amounts of data.
  3. You’ll get the idea about how choosing a proper data structure can reduce the operation cost such as retrieving or processing data. which will save the programmers’ and users’ time and money.
  4. You’ll see that modifications can be easily done in large data by choosing the best-suited data structure.
  5. You’ll know the properties of each data structure, with their advantages and disadvantages, which will help in problem-solving eventually.

Demerits of learning Data Structure first: 

  1. Going deep into Data Structures only, without the knowledge of Algorithms can make the concepts hard.
  2. There are some advanced data structures like Disjoint Sets, Self-Balancing Trees, Segment Trees, Tries, etc. which need some prior knowledge about the algorithm. So before knowing their proper algorithm, it will be very difficult to implement.
  3. Learning only about Data Structures will not be helpful as it is not necessary that the best data structure is the most efficient for a particular 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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