Complex Data Structures
Discover and design new data structures that follow abstract rule-based systems by building out graphs, hash-maps, and heaps.
Why Learn Complex Data Structures?
These data structures use a layer of abstraction to make specific operations much more straightforward. They’re designed as solutions for problems that don’t require linear iteration, but have more nuanced requirements.
Take-Away Skills:
This course introduces the theory and implementation of abstract data structures. After this course, you’ll be ready to solve advanced algorithmic problems like path-finding and maintaining priority queues.
Notes on Prerequisites:
This course is a continuation of our Linear Data Structures syllabus, which introduces other data structures you might encounter. Since you’ll be implementing these data structures in Python, we recommend you take our Python curriculum to become familiar with the language.
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What you'll learn
- 1Learn about hash maps, the efficient key-value storage used in many different programming languages, and then implement one yourself!
- 2Learn the tree data structure using Python and create an adventure game!
- 3Learn the data structure of heaps using Python. A heap is a specialized type of tree with many applications.
- 4Learn the graphs data structure using Python. Graphs are the perfect data structure for modeling networks!
What you'll create
Portfolio projects that showcase your new skills
Blossom
Use a Hash Map with a separate chain of Linked Lists to store the language of flowers. For every flower, save its meaning with Blossom!
Choose Your Own Adventure: Wilderness Escape
Write an interactive Choose Your Own Adventure game using the Tree data structure.
Maze Explorer
This project uses the graph data structure to navigate a maze!
How you'll master it
Stress-test your knowledge with quizzes that help commit syntax to memory
— Madelyn, Pinterest“I know from first-hand experience that you can go in knowing zero, nothing, and just get a grasp on everything as you go and start building right away.”