Deque

A deque (double-ended queue) is a linear data structure that allows insertion and deletion of elements from both ends (front and rear). It combines the features of stacks (LIFO) and queues (FIFO), enabling efficient operations like push/pop from either side. Deques are commonly implemented in programming languages and libraries for scenarios requiring flexible access patterns.

Also known as: Double-ended queue, Dequeue, D-queue, Head-tail linked list, Bidirectional queue

Why learn Deque?

Developers should learn and use deques when they need a data structure that supports fast additions and removals from both ends, such as in implementing algorithms like breadth-first search (BFS), sliding window problems, or task scheduling systems. They are particularly useful in scenarios where elements need to be processed in a specific order from either direction, offering O(1) time complexity for these operations in many implementations.

Learning Resources

• docs: GeeksforGeeks: Deque Data Structure
• docs: Wikipedia: Double-ended queue
• tutorial: Khan Academy: Deque Introduction
• video: YouTube: Deque Explained in 5 Minutes
• course: Coursera: Data Structures and Algorithms Specialization