An ADT is a model for data types defined by their behavior and operations, not by how they’re implemented or stored in memory.
Why “Abstract”?
ADTs hide implementation details. Users interact only with the interface-what operations are available-not how those operations work behind the scenes.
Key Components of ADT
Every ADT has a set of possible values, allowed operations, and rules for how those operations behave-regardless of the underlying code.
Common ADT Examples
Stacks, queues, lists, sets, and maps are all ADTs. Their behavior is defined by rules, like LIFO for stacks or FIFO for queues.
ADT vs. Data Structure
ADT is the concept (what it does); data structure is the implementation (how it’s done). A stack ADT can be built using arrays or linked lists.
Benefits of Using ADTs
ADTs enable modular, reusable, and reliable code. You can change the implementation without affecting programs that use the ADT.
ADTs in Programming
Languages like Java and C++ use classes and interfaces to implement ADTs, powering efficient algorithms and robust software systems