Q9Data Structures
Question
2 marks
What is meant by abstract data type?
Answer
An ADT defines data behavior and operational constraints without specifying underlying implementation details.
An Abstract Data Type (ADT) serves as a conceptual, mathematical blueprint or model for a data structure. It rigorously specifies the logical behavior, allowable data values, and permitted operational methods from a strict user perspective, while purposefully omitting all concrete details regarding algorithmic implementation or underlying physical memory management (e.g., defining a Queue's enqueue/dequeue actions without specifying arrays or linked lists).