Practical Introduction to Data Structures and Algorithm Analysis, A (C++ Edition)

Clifford A. Shaffer provides a treatment of fundamental data structures and the principles of algorithm analysis understandable by sophomore and junior level students in Computer Science and related fields. The author focuses on teaching students and practitioners to understand the principles required to select or design the data structure that will best solve his/her problem.

This practical book is designed for the needs of practicing programmers by presenting the most commonly used data structures, including implementation in C++. It also compares alternatives for practical use. The book also discusses how to perform empirical comparison of algorithms and data structures as well as fundamental disk processing techniques, such as external sorting and B-trees. Written for users of C++, this book provides integrated treatment of both in-memory and disk-based algorithm techniques to allow readers to see how these techniques are related, and the key differences between them. It presents basic analysis terminology and analysis techniques throughout. The techniques provided assume a range of instructional levels so that they may be used by readers with varying backgrounds in the subject. Other topics include clear explanations and illustrations for most fundamental data structures and algorithms; actual C++ code for nearly all algorithms; the latest data structures; and an introduction to computability and NP-completeness. A valuable resource for all practicing programmers.