Western Governors University (WGU) ICSC2100 C949 Data Structures and Algorithms I Practice Exam

A queue is a linear data structure that follows the First In, First Out (FIFO) principle, where elements are inserted at the back and removed from the front. The specific operations associated with a queue are termed "enqueue" and "dequeue."

"Enqueue" refers to the operation of adding an element to the back of the queue. This operation ensures that new elements are placed in a position to be processed later, maintaining the order of the queue. Conversely, "dequeue" is the operation that removes an element from the front of the queue. This allows the oldest element in the queue to be accessed and processed first, consistent with the FIFO nature of the data structure.

While other terms such as "insert" and "remove" can describe actions within various data structures, they are not specifically integral to the definition of a queue. Instead, "enqueue" and "dequeue" are the precise terms that communicate the functionality of queues effectively. Therefore, recognizing and using the correct vocabulary is fundamental in understanding data structures and algorithms.