Priority Queue
A priority queue is an abstract data type that operates similarly to a regular queue or stack, but where each element has an associated priority. Elements are served based on their priority, with higher-priority elements dequeued before lower-priority ones, rather than in a strict first-in-first-out (FIFO) order. It is commonly implemented using data structures like binary heaps, Fibonacci heaps, or balanced binary search trees to efficiently manage insertion and removal operations.
Developers should learn priority queues when building systems that require efficient handling of tasks or data with varying importance, such as job scheduling in operating systems, network packet routing, or Dijkstra's algorithm for shortest path finding. They are essential in scenarios where processing order depends on dynamic priorities rather than arrival time, enabling optimized performance in algorithms and real-time applications.