What is the difference between a stack and a queue in terms of memory utilization?

In terms of memory utilization, the main difference between a stack and a queue lies in their respective data structures and the way elements are stored and accessed.

A stack is a data structure that follows the Last-In-First-Out (LIFO) principle, meaning that the last element added to the stack is the first one to be removed. It can be implemented using either an array or a linked list. In terms of memory utilization, a stack implemented using an array typically requires a fixed amount of memory, as the size of the array needs to be predefined. This means that even if the stack is not fully occupied, the allocated memory for the array remains constant. On the other hand, a stack implemented using a linked list dynamically allocates memory for each new element added, resulting in more flexible memory utilization. However, the overhead of maintaining the linked list structure may slightly increase memory usage.

A queue, on the other hand, follows the First-In-First-Out (FIFO) principle, where the first element added is the first one to be removed. Similar to a stack, a queue can also be implemented using either an array or a linked list. In terms of memory utilization, a queue implemented using an array also requires a fixed amount of memory, similar to a stack. However, a queue implemented using a linked list dynamically allocates memory for each new element added, just like a linked list-based stack. This dynamic allocation allows for more flexible memory utilization, but it also incurs the overhead of maintaining the linked list structure.

In summary, the main difference in terms of memory utilization between a stack and a queue lies in the way they are implemented. A stack implemented using an array has a fixed memory allocation, while a stack or queue implemented using a linked list allows for more flexible memory utilization but incurs the overhead of maintaining the linked list structure.