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c++abstract-data-type

Derived datatypes vs Abstract Datatypes

While reading for c++, I came across, derived data types such as array, struct, unions etc. However we also study about stacks, queues, binary search tree , trees as ADT.

I wonder, are these ADT derived datatypes too?

Solution

  • Arrays, structs, unions or pointers are derived types that C++ inherited from C. They allow to create new data types from basic types (int, long, float...).

    In C++ you also have the Standard Template Library (STL), which are abstract types. They differ from derived types in that they are classes that use templates.

    So, answering your questions, abstract types are more powerful than derived types because the template mechanism has richer semantics. For instance, in C++ you can have an abstract struct:

    template <typename T> 
struct mytype { 
    T value;
};