front matter
Algorithms and data structures lie at the very heart of the intersection between the beauty of theory and the excitement of cutting-edge technology. One can say that if the body of the advancements in computation is hardware, then the mind is certainly the study of algorithms and data structures. Many of the recent advances in technology have come to life thanks to the effective use of computing resources to solve problems, and this is often due to the effective development and implementation of algorithms and clever use of data structures.
A computer scientist, a software developer, a data scientist, or anyone whose work is dependent on the power of computation needs to be fluent in the language of algorithms and data structures. It is for this reason that problems in this field are some of the most common in interviews for companies in Silicon Valley or similar technology sectors.
It is quite difficult, even for experts, to learn and remember all the details of all the algorithms in existence. However, it is important to have a good intuition about them in such a way that one can use them as building blocks to create larger projects or to solve problems. In order to master this intuition, one must develop a rigid theoretical and mathematical base, solid programming knowledge, and a strong understanding of the core concepts.