Which data structure would you use to implement a function that checks for balan
Practice Questions
Q1
Which data structure would you use to implement a function that checks for balanced parentheses?
Array
Stack
Queue
Linked List
Questions & Step-by-Step Solutions
Which data structure would you use to implement a function that checks for balanced parentheses?
Step 1: Understand what balanced parentheses mean. This means that every opening parenthesis '(' has a corresponding closing parenthesis ')', and they are in the correct order.
Step 2: Identify the data structure needed. A stack is a good choice because it follows the Last In, First Out (LIFO) principle, which is perfect for matching pairs.
Step 3: When you encounter an opening parenthesis '(', push it onto the stack.
Step 4: When you encounter a closing parenthesis ')', check if the stack is empty. If it is empty, it means there is no matching opening parenthesis, so the parentheses are not balanced.
Step 5: If the stack is not empty, pop the top element from the stack. This should be the matching opening parenthesis for the closing one you just found.
Step 6: After processing all characters, check if the stack is empty. If it is empty, the parentheses are balanced. If not, they are not balanced.
