Difference between Linear and Non-Linear data structures


Linear data structures: In linear data structures, data elements are organized in sequential manner. Here each element is attached to its previous and next element. For traversing, each element can be accessed directly. It is easy to implement linear data structure because of its sequential computer memory. Examples of linear data structures are array, stack, queue, linked list etc.

Non-Linear data structures: In non-linear data structures, data items are not organized in sequential manner. Here, each data element may have multiple paths to have connection with every other elements. Here all the data elements cannot be traversed through single run. Non-linear data structures are beneficial for computer memory utilization but are difficult to implement. Examples of non-linear data structures are tree, Graphs, BST etc.


Linear data structures Non-Linear data structures
1. In linear data structure, data elements are organized in sequential manner. 1. In non-linear data structure, data elements are organized in hierarchical manner.
2. For traversing, each element can be accessed directly through a single run. 2. Here, all the elements cannot be traversed though a single run.
3. It is easy to implement linear data structure because of its sequential computer memory. 3. Non-linear data structures are difficult to implement because of its non-sequential computer memory.
4. Here, memory utilization can be done very efficiently. 4. Here, memory utilization cannot be done very efficiently.
5. Here, each element is linked to its previous and next element. 5. Here, each element can be connected through multiple paths to every other elements.
6. One to one relationship exists between data elements. 6. One to one or one to many relationship exists between data elements.
7. With the increasing size of linear data structures, time complexity often increqses. 7. With the increasing size of non-linear data structures, time complexity often remains unchanged.
8. Single level involvement. 8. Multiple level involvement.
9. Examples are array, linked list stack, queue etc. 9. Examples are Graphs, trees, BST, Map etc.
10. Linear data structure can be applied in application software development. 10. Non- linear data structure can be applied in image processing and artificial intelligence.
11. Insert, delete, search, update operations are performed in sequential manner. 11. Insert, delete, search, update operations are performed randomly.


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Contributed By: Romana Rahman Ema